The Valparaiso University women’s tennis team saw its season reach its conclusion on Friday as host Missouri State prevailed 4-1 in a clinch-clinch format in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Springfield, Mo. Senior Claire Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) garnered a victory at No. 1 singles in the season’s final match. She plans to return next season for her additional year of eligibility granted by the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver with hopes of continuing to rewrite the program record book.
How It Happened
- Czerwonka put together a dominant performance at No. 1 singles, dropping just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 straight-set sweep of Hana Sisirak. The win allowed Claire to avenge her 6-1, 7-5 loss to Sisirak that occurred on April 10 at The Courts of Northwest Indiana.
- The No. 1 doubles match went unfinished as the Bears (10-9) had secured the doubles point with wins on the other two courts. The No. 3 and No. 6 singles matches also went unfinished.
Inside the Match
- Claire’s younger sister Olivia Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) finished the season as the team leader in singles wins with 11. She posted a 4-1 mark during MVC play and earned a spot on the conference’s All-Select Team.
- Claire and Olivia capped the season with a 12-6 mark at No. 1 doubles, tying for the seventh-best single-season doubles winning percentage in program history.
- Claire finished the season with 52 career doubles wins, third on Valpo’s all-time list.
- Thanks to her victory on Friday, Claire finished the season with 44 career singles triumphs, which ranks ninth in the program record book.
- Valpo’s entire team made key contributions in head coach Bob Modesto’s second season and first full year after the 2019-20 slate was halted prior to conference play due to COVID-19. The team finished with the program’s highest single-season win total since the 2006-2007 campaign.
Up Next
Valpo (6-13) is expected to bring back all of its starters for the 2021-2022 season.
