The Bob Modesto Era for the Valparaiso University women’s tennis program will begin on Thursday, as the team starts its 2019-2020 season by hosting Grace College.

Modesto will make his college coaching debut in Thursday’s match, kicking off a full slate that was announced on Thursday morning.

The fall portion of the season features a number of familiar events as the team returns to the DePauw Tournament, where its 2017 performance saw five individuals and two doubles teams qualify for the finals, on Sept. 7-8. The following weekend, Valpo is back in the Cougar Invitational hosted by Chicago State. A second straight tournament in the Windy City will occur on Sept. 20-21 as Valpo returns to the UIC Invitational for its fifth appearance in the event.

Valpo will then host a final fall dual against Huntington University on Sept. 28 before traveling to the MVC Individual Championships, hosted by UNI in Cedar Falls, Iowa (Oct. 4-6). 

The spring season will open with the team traveling to Indianapolis to play instate foe IUPUI for the third straight season on Jan. 18 and then rival Butler for the second straight season on Jan. 19. The home opener for the spring slate will occur on Jan. 25. This year, indoor home matches will occur at The Courts of Northwest Indiana in Valpo.

The team will travel for four straight matches, playing Milwaukee on Feb. 8, Green Bay on Feb. 9, UIC on Feb. 15 and Western Michigan on Feb. 22. Valpo will then host SIUE at home on Feb. 23 before traveling for the spring trip Feb. 29 to March 10. 

Valpo will play Lewis University on March 29 before kicking off conference play on the road against Illinois State on April 4 and Bradley on April 5. The team returns home to host conference foes UNI on April 11 and Drake on April 12. 

Valpo will play three more road matches before the MVC Championships on April 24-27 in Springfield, Mo., rounding out the regular season at Chicago State (April 14), Missouri State (April 18) and Washington University (April 19).

Modesto will look to returnees Dao Sysouvanh (Sun Prairie, Wis. / Sun Prairie), Claire Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) and Isabella Schoolcraft (Bargersville, Ind. / Center Grove) for leadership on a team that also features three freshmen.