Three members of the Valparaiso University tennis team all secured singles wins as junior
Moira Silva (Houston, Texas / Westside)
, freshman
Lacey Tanner (Fort Pierce, Fla. / Florida Virtual School) and sophomore
Lillian Kelly (Fullerton, Calif. / Fullerton Union) all came out on top on Saturday in a 4-3 loss at Drake. Silva moved into the program's career top-10 for singles victories with her triumph.
How It Happened
- Drake took the doubles point, winning the two matches that were played while also prevailing by default at No. 3.
- Silva dropped just one game as she cruised past Jessica Popiol 6-0, 6-1 at the top singles spot.
- After the third singles match ended with Drake prevailing, Valpo trailed the team score 3-1 and needed to win on all three remaining courts. Tanner eked out a 7-6(3), 6-4 victory in a tight match against Jana Ruzic at No. 4.
- The Bulldogs clinched the team win when Elizabet Klavinska won a close battle over Jolene Fernandes (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 6-4, 7-6(3) at No. 2.
- Kelly rallied from a set down to win another tightly-contested showdown 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 over Tess Caldicott at No. 5.
- The Beacons defaulted at No. 6 Singles, giving the Bulldogs a point in the team score that was crucial in the match's outcome.
Inside the Match
- Three of Valpo's last six matches have been losses by the slimmest of margins at 4-3.
- Silva picked up her 16th singles win of the season and the 49th of her career. She is two singles wins away from cracking the program's single-season top 10. Furthermore, she moved into a tie for 10th in program history for career singles wins on Saturday, getting even with Jill Dierberg (2002-2006).
- Silva has won six of her last eight matches. She improved to 3-1 in league play.
- Kelly continued to play well despite the fact that every Valpo singles player besides Silva is playing up a spot in the lineup due to an injury at No. 2 Singles. Kelly earned her fourth win in the last six matches including her third win since moving up to fifth singles. She also upped her record to 3-1 in league play.
- Tanner's triumph was her ninth of the season and second in MVC action.
Up Next
Valpo (3-12, 0-4 MVC) will play its final road match of the season on Sunday at UNI at 10 a.m. in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
