Valparaiso University tennis sophomore Moira Silva (Houston, Texas / Houston Tennis Academy) continued her strong start to the spring season by securing a straight-set success story in Saturday’s road match at SIUE in Edwardsville, Ill. The host Cougars prevailed 4-1 in a match that utilized a clinch/clinch format.

How It Happened

• After capturing the opening set 6-2, Silva nailed down her triumph at No. 2 singles by outlasting Margaux Guibal Britt 7-6(0) thanks to a dominant tiebreak.
• Valpo dropped the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches. Silva and Olivia Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) were involved in a 5-5 stalemate with Jill Lambrechts and Jordan Schifano at No. 1 when play was halted.
• Czerwonka dropped a close first set to Lambrechts at No. 1 singles 7-5, but rebounded to take the second 6-4. She faced a 3-1 deficit in the third when the match was clinched.
• SIUE recorded wins at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 singles. Mia Bertino (Lockport, Ill. / Joliet Catholic) battled in a second set that went to a tiebreak, but Amelia Gorman eventually pulled out that match at No. 4.

Inside the Matches

• Silva improved to 10-3 in singles this season including a 5-0 mark in dual matches. She already owns 28 career singles wins as only a sophomore.
• Silva’s win came over Guibal Britt, who was part of the All-Ohio Valley Conference second team last year. Czerwonka split sets with Lambrechts, who was an All-OVC First Teamer. Guibal Britt was one of four Cougars named to the Preseason OVC Top 10 list this year.
• SIUE was picked second of seven in the OVC preseason poll and received two first-place votes. Both of Valpo’s matches so far this spring have come against teams picked to finish in the top two in their conference.

Up Next

The Beacons (3-2) will have a pair of home matches this week, welcoming Bellarmine to the Courts of Northwest Indiana for a noon start on Friday.