It’s been a year of down-to-the-wire matches for the Valparaiso University tennis team, which dropped Sunday’s showdown with Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. by a 4-3 score. The teams split the six singles matches after the Bears had picked up a doubles point that proved crucial in the match’s outcome.

How It Happened

• Valpo reworked its doubles pairings as Sydney Stone (Brisbane, Australia / Tyler JC) joined Olivia Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) at No. 1 and the tweak paid dividends at the top spot, as that combo did not drop a game in a 6-0 victory over Christina Flaquer and Nicole Ross.
• However, the Bears prevailed on the remaining doubles courts to take an important doubles point, winning 6-2 at No. 2 and 6-0 at No. 3.
• At No. 4 Singles, Stone nearly recorded a double bagel, dropping just one game on her way to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Juliette Robinson. That was the first match to finish and evened the team score at 1-1.
• Valpo took the lead in the team portion of the match when Czerwonka finalized a 6-3, 6-2 win over Mary Houston at No. 2 Singles.
• The Beacons extended the lead to 3-1 and needed one more victory to take the team match after Elizabeth Sobieski (Muskego, Wis. / Muskego) was the third singles player off the court, sweeping Ross 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5.
• Missouri State then completed straight-set wins at No. 6 and No. 1 to get back to even at 3-3. The last match in action was No. 3, but Tuana Gunal of Missouri State closed out the 6-2, 6-2 win to secure the team triumph for the hosts.

Inside the Match

• Czerwonka captured her 24^th singles win this season, moving into sole possession of second place in program history. Kate Kollarova owns the single-season record with 29 singles wins in 2000-01.
• Czerwonka’s career singles win total reached 87, moving her into sole possession of third in school history (men’s and women’s) as she surpassed Charlie Emhardt (2013-2017). She owns the women’s program record.
• Czerwonka picked up her 16^th doubles win of the season and now owns a program-record 78 career doubles wins.
• Stone snagged her 14^th singles win of the year, while Sobieski picked up her 16^th.
• This was the team's ninth 4-3 match of the season. 

Up Next

The Beacons (10-11, 1-5 MVC) will host Senior Day against Murray State this coming Saturday, April 20. The time and location will depend upon the weather forecast as the match will either begin at 2 p.m. indoors at The Courts of Northwest Indiana or 10 a.m. outdoors at the Valpo Tennis Complex.