The Valparaiso University tennis team split the singles matches thanks to wins by Moira Silva (Houston, Texas / Westside), Andrea Delgado (Richmond, Texas / Foster [Dallas Baptist]) and Jolene Fernandes (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), but host Belmont captured a doubles point that proved crucial in a 4-3 victory over the Beacons on Sunday in Nashville.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo played from behind early in the match as the Bruins prevailed on all three doubles courts to secure the doubles point.
• Belmont won the first singles match to finish on the No. 2 court to go up 2-0 in the team score, but the Beacons had a path to victory after taking the first set on four of the six singles courts.
• Delgado secured the first Beacon victory of the day when she polished off a 6-1, 6-3 sweep of Emma Grant at No. 5 Singles.
• Valpo got even in the team score when Silva wrapped up her 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Savannah Webster at the top singles spot.
• After a tight first set that needed a breaker, Belmont pulled away in Set 2 to take the No. 3 Singles match.
• The No. 4 and No. 6 matches both went the distance with Valpo needing to take the third set on both courts to win the match. Fernandes outlasted Libbie Hamilton 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, dominating the decisive set on the No. 6 Singles court. However, Belmont won the team match by virtue of a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 4.

Inside the Match

• Silva's win came over Webster, a power-4 transfer from the University of Miami.
• Silva picked up her 16^th win of the season, improved to 14-3 in dual matches and 16-5 overall.
• Silva achieved her 64^th career singles win, one victory away from moving into a tie for second in program history for career singles successes.
• Delgado improved to 16-6 and she and Silva are tied for the team lead in singles wins. Delgado is 14-3 in dual matches as well and has won eight of her last 10.
• Fernandes reached the double-figure win threshold by securing her 10^th triumph of the season, becoming the third Beacon in double figures this year.
• Three of Valpo's five losses in Missouri Valley Conference play have come by a 4-3 score. Valpo fell to 3-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play in matches decided by the slimmest of margins this season.

 
Up Next
The Beacons (10-8, 0-5 MVC) will begin the final home weekend of the season by hosting Drake on Saturday, April 18 at either the Valpo Tennis Complex or The Courts of Northwest Indiana, depending upon weather. After the match, an event celebrating head coach Bob Modesto's upcoming retirement will be held at the Bell & Beacon in the Harre Union on campus. Click here to register for the event.