Olivia Czerwonka, Mia Bertino Post Singles Wins on Friday

By: Brandon Vickrey Last Updated: September 24, 2021

The Valparaiso University tennis team enjoyed a Flight 1 doubles triumph and a pair of singles successes on Friday as the Beacons began competition at the Redbird Invite, hosted by Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. Claire Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) moved into a tie for second in program history in career doubles wins.

How It Happened

Valpo’s top doubles tandem of Claire and Olivia Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) advanced to the semifinals in Flight 1 doubles by besting Weise/Desmarais of Marquette 8-5 in the opening round.
In Flight 2 singles, Olivia punched her ticket to the semifinals by earning a three-set win over Illinois State’s Alexandra Abyasova. Olivia took the opening set in a 6-0 whitewash before dropping the second 4-6 and battling her way to a 10-8 victory in the third set tiebreak.
Mia Bertino (Lockport, Ill. / Joliet Catholic) prevailed in a tightly-contested, three-set showdown with Laura Fitzgerald of Illinois State in Flight 7 singles to advance to Saturday’s semifinals. Bertino garnered a 7-5, 4-6, 12-10 triumph.
Valpo incurred an extremely narrow defeat in Flight 4 doubles as Demi Jhaveri (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) and Allison McConnell (Westland, Mich. / Churchill) lost on a tiebreak 8-7(4) to a University of Chicago tandem.

Inside the Match

Claire’s doubles win was the 54th of her career as she moved into a tie for second in program history with Whitney Chada (2003-2007). The next time the Czerwonka sisters win a doubles match, Claire will tie the program record held by Mara Sonkin (55, 2000-2004).
Olivia upped her career total to 26 singles victories and 27 doubles triumphs.
Bertino’s win represented the eighth of her young collegiate career. The victory came over Fitzgerald, who was an All-MVC performer in doubles last season.
The Czerwonka sisters topped a tandem comprised of two Big East All-Academic Team honorees from last season.

Up Next

The tournament will continue on Saturday, Sept. 18 in Normal, Ill.