The Valparaiso University women’s tennis team picked up victories at the top of the lineup on Saturday afternoon against Butler, but a short-handed, injury-ravaged team fell 6-1 to the Bulldogs at the Northwest Athletic Complex in Michigan City. Playing with only four players, Valpo put together a solid showing despite having to forfeit three matches and insert players into new roles.

How It Happened

• The play of sophomore Claire Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) was one of several bright spots for Valpo on Saturday. She started off the home portion of Valpo’s season with a comeback victory over Emily Neal at No. 1 singles. After Neal won the first set 6-1, Czerwonka bounced back with 6-0, 6-3 victories.
• Czerwonka teamed with freshman Isabella Schoolcraft (Bargersville, Ind. / Center Grove) at No. 1 doubles, their first match together. The two had little if any practice time together, but their lack of familiarity didn’t show in a quality performance at No. 1 doubles. They bested Neal and Sara Linn 6-3.
• Butler won the doubles point thanks to a 6-1 win at No. 2 and a forfeit victory at No. 3.
• It was a very positive day for Schoolcraft, who lost a battle of a first set 7-6(6) to Sarah Monesmith at No. 3 singles after owning a 6-3 lead in the set tiebreaker. She won the second set 6-2, but Monesmith prevailed 10-3 in the super tiebreaker.  
• Jordan Kopfer (Eagan, Minn. / Eastview) fell 6-2, 6-1 to Nina Bertino at No. 4, while Randi Wind (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) stepped into a No. 2 singles role and played a close second set in a 6-0, 7-5 loss to Lauryn Padgett.

Inside the Match

• Czerwonka picked up her seventh singles win and seventh doubles win of the season. She has 21 career singles triumphs and 22 wins on the doubles court.
• Schoolcraft gained the fourth doubles win of her freshman campaign.
• Meg Modesto, Jelena Vujanic and Dao Sysouvanh were all sidelined by injuries.

Up Next

Valpo will play the second of back-to-back matches on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Northwest Athletic Club in Michigan City as IUPUI comes to town. Note that the match against the Jaguars is on a different day than originally scheduled.