The Valparaiso University women’s tennis team split a pair of matches on Wednesday in Orlando, rolling to a 6-1 victory over Hampton in the morning before incurring a 4-3 setback to Grand Valley State during the evening session at the USTA National Tennis Center.

How It Happened – Hampton

• With Demi Jhaveri (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) sidelined by an injury, Valpo dropped the No. 3 doubles match by forfeit and needed to win both remaining doubles matchups to get the point. Valpo did just that, dominating both doubles matches that were played by not dropping a game at No. 1 or No. 2.
• Olivia Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) and Claire Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) teamed up for the 6-0 whitewash of Hampton at No. 1, while Isabella Schoolcraft (Bargersville, Ind. / Center Grove) and Amanda Tabanera (Valencia, Calif. / Valencia) did the same at No. 2.
• Valpo also took a forfeit defeat at No. 6 singles, but won all five singles matches that were played in straight sets. Senior Dao Sysouvanh (Sun Prairie, Wis. / Sun Prairie) was the first to finish with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 5 before Schoolcraft wrapped up a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 4.
• Olivia topped her foe 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 to clinch the team victory, then Tabanera tacked on a 6-3, 7-6(4) win at No. 3 that featured the closest match of the day. The last match going was at No. 1, where Claire collected a 6-1, 6-4 win over Milena Amedieva of the Pirates (2-6).

How It Happened – Grand Valley State  

• Valpo again lost by forfeit at No. 3 doubles, but earned a pair of wins at the other positions to grab the doubles point.
• Both doubles matches were tight showdowns decided by the score of 7-5. The Czerwonka sisters came away victorious at the top spot, while Schoolcraft and Tabanera did the same at No. 2. Both doubles triumphs came in comeback fashion as both Valpo tandems trailed 4-5 before rattling off three straight games.
• Singles play was tightly contested with the top four matches all going to third sets. Due to time constraints, third-set tiebreaks were used rather than traditional third sets.
• Valpo split the four three-set affairs with Olivia and Tabanera winning at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. Olivia picked up a 6-2, 3-6, 10-4 victory, while Tabanera closed out a 6-3, 0-6, 10-2 triumph.
• Claire got out to an early lead by taking her first set, but went on to drop the match on a tight tiebreak 6-2, 4-6, 7-10 at No. 1. Schoolcraft was also on the wrong end of a tiebreak as Grand Valley won her match 7-5, 4-6, 10-3 at No. 4.  
•  The Lakers (17-3) won at No. 5 in straight sets and No. 6 by forfeit to take the match. The injury to Jhaveri was pivotal in the match, a close defeat to a team that went to the Division-II NCAA Tournament last season.

Up Next

Valpo (5-8) will visit Northern Illinois on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m. in DeKalb.