After starting the season with three dual matches, the Valparaiso University tennis team began its first flighted tournament of the fall on Friday at Illinois State's Redbird Invitational in Normal, Ill. Five of the eight Valpo players picked up opening-round singles victories.
 
How It Happened

• Senior Moira Silva (Houston, Texas / Westside) cruised to an opening-round win in Flight 1 in a tournament filled with Missouri Valley Conference representation. She dropped just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 whitewash of Bradley's Valeriia Ivanovskaia. Silva will play UIC's Edit Cosmo in Saturday's semifinal.
• Freshman Alexandra Popa (Glenview, Ill. / Glenbrook South) picked up a victory in the fourth singles flight, defeating Illinois State's Nicole Iosio in straight sets. Popa took a competitive opening set 7-5 before rolling to a 6-2 victory in Set 2. Popa will clash with Belmont's Cielo Tapia-Cruz on Saturday in the semifinals.
• Sophomore Andrea Delgado prevailed on a tiebreak in the opening set, eventually winning her Flight 5 Singles opening-round match 7-6(4), 6-2 over UIC's Anais Brion. Delgado advances to the semifinals, where she will meet Murray State's Bruna Melato.
• The fourth victory for the Beacons came in Flight 7, where junior Jolene Fernandes (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) won a close first set and pulled away in Set 2, taking the match 7-5, 6-1 over Emma Grant of Belmont. Fernandes will battle Murray State's Arden Dethridge on Saturday.
• Also in Flight 7, freshman Ana Baron (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point) grinded out a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Belmont's Annika Warkentin to move on to Saturday's semifinals against UIC's Joanne Hartono.
• The Beacons dropped their four doubles matches on Friday.

Inside the Matches

• Silva's win came over Ivanovskaia, a transfer who previously played at UT Arlington and New Mexico State and earned All-Conference USA honors in 2023-24.
• Silva's success elevated her career win total to 56, seventh in program history. She is one win away from moving into a tie for sixth.
• Popa's win came over Iosio, who went 6-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play as a freshman last season.
• Delgado defeated Brion, who went 7-1 in singles dual matches last season and picked up a victory in the Missouri Valley Conference title match to help UIC to an NCAA Tournament berth.
• Baron made her collegiate debut on Friday.  
• Delgado and Silva both own flawless 4-0 records this season.

Up Next
The tournament will continue on Saturday with semifinal and consolation action.