The Valparaiso University tennis team opened the Missouri Valley Conference portion of the season on Saturday, falling 4-3 to Illinois State at The Courts of Northwest Indiana. The Beacons received singles victories from senior Moira Silva (Houston, Texas / Westside), freshman Alexandra Popa (Glenview, Ill. / Glenbrook South) and junior Jolene Fernandes (Calgary, Alberta, Canada).
 
How It Happened

• Illinois State clinched the doubles point with 6-2 wins at both No. 2 and No. 3. The closest doubles match was at No. 1, where the top Redbird tandem of Lana Caculovic and Silvia Pomarolli edged out a victory on a breaker over Lacey Tanner and Alexandra Popa 7-6(4).
• Silva was the first singles player off the court, cruising past Caculovic in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3 to tie the team score at 1-1.
• The No. 4 Singles match went final in favor of the guests, but then Popa closed out her 6-2, 6-2 win over Pomarolli at No. 2 to make it 2-2 in the team score.
• The Redbirds clinched the match with straight-set victories at No. 3 and No. 5.
• Fernandes outlasted Illinois State's Emma Lindh on a third-set tiebreak, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 in the final match to finish.

Inside the Match

• This marked the closest Valpo has ever come to knocking off Illinois State. The Redbirds have won all 13 all-time matchups in a series that dates back to 1995, and this was the first 4-3 decision.
• Silva has won eight of her last nine singles matches, and the only loss was a match last week where she was on the verge of victory when she retired due to injury. She improved to 14-3 on the season and 12-1 in dual matches.
• Silva achieved the 62^nd singles win of her career, moving into a tie for third in program history with Rachel Janssen (2003-2007).
• Silva's win came over Caculovic, the 2023-24 MVC Newcomer of the Year.
• Popa's win came over Pomarolli, a First Team All-MVC performer each of the last two seasons.
• Fernandes picked up her eighth singles win of the year, and Popa achieved her seventh.
• Fernandes is up to 34 career singles wins.

Up Next
The Beacons (10-4, 0-1 MVC) will host Bradley on Sunday at 9 a.m. The match will take place indoors at The Courts of Northwest Indiana.