SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State tennis team sent off its seniors in the best way possible with a 4-3 win over visiting Valparaiso at home on Sunday.
 
The Bears (12-8, 3-3 MVC) battled in their final home match of the season. They earned the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3. Tuana Gunal and Juliette Robinson won 6-2 over Valpo's Jolene Fernandes and Moira Silva in only their fourth match in the No. 2 spot. Mary Houston and Sandra Lukacova snapped a four-match losing streak with a 6-0 sweep over Lillian Kelly and Elizabeth Sobieski in the No. 3 match.
 
For the second match in a row, the Bears' fate came down to the No. 3 match. Gunal beat Valpo's Mia Bertino 6-2 in the first set. The second set was a repeat of the first with Gunal winning 6-2 once again. The freshman from Turkey secured her 15^th singles win this season.
 
Cristina Flaquer put the Bears in position to win in her last home match as a Bear. She took the first set 6-2 over Silva. Flaquer went on to win the second set 6-4 in the No. 1 spot.
 
In the No. 6 match, Lukacova sped through the first set to win 6-0 over Kelly. The junior from Slovakia battled in the second set and won 6-3.
 
The Bears end their home schedule with an 8-1 record Cooper Tennis Complex, their first winning record at home since 2019. Head coach Ellie Burger also surpassed her conference win record with three wins over MVC opponents.
 
With only two matches left in the regular season, the Bears have also put themselves in position for their first winning season since 2018.
 
MoState will end the regular season on the road with a match at 1:00 p.m. at Bradley on Saturday and then a noon match at Illinois State on Sunday in advance of the MVC Tournament, April 26-28 in Nashville.
   
Results
Missouri State (12-8, 3-3) – 4, Valparaiso (10-11, 1-5) – 3
Doubles
1. Cristina Flaquer/Nicole Ross (MOST) lost to Olivia Czerwonka/Sydney Stone (VALPO) – 6-0
2. Tuana Gunal/Juliette Robinson (MOST) defeated Jolene Fernandes/Moira Silva (VALPO) – 6-2
3. Mary Houston/Sandra Lukacova (MOST) defeated Lillian Kelly/Elizabeth Sobieski (VALPO) – 6-0
 
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
 
Singles
1. Cristina Flaquer (MOST) defeated Moira Silva (VALPO) – 6-2, 6-4
2. Mary Houston (MOST) lost to Olivia Czerwonka (VALPO) – 6-3, 6-2
3. Tuana Gunal (MOST) defeated Mia Bertino (VALPO) – 6-2, 6-2
4. Juliette Robinson (MOST) lost to Sydney Stone (VALPO) – 6-0, 6-1
5. Nicole Ross (MOST) lost to Elizabeth Sobieski (VALPO) – 6-4, 6-1
6. Sandra Lukacova (MOST) defeated Lillian Kelly (VALPO) – 6-0, 6-3
 
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 5, 6, 1, 3