VALPARAISO, Ind. – Missouri State women's tennis secured a 4-3 win over Valparaiso to open Missouri Valley Conference play on the road on Saturday.
 
The Bears (2-13, 1-0 MVC) secured a point before the start of the match with a default in the No. 6 singles match. Valparaiso (3-9, 0-1 MVC) also defaulted on the No. 3 doubles match, but MoState did not need the extra help to secure the ever-important doubles point.
 
Sandra Lukacova and Raluca Puscas won the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Valpo's Lacey Tanner and Lillian Kelly in the No. 2 flight. Tuana Gunal and Billur Gonlusen wrapped the doubles portion of the match with a win over Brynn Steven and Moira Silva by the same margin.
 
Gonlusen put the Bears in winning position with a win at No. 2 singles. The junior blanked Valpoaraiso's Jolene Fernandes in the first set to win 6-0. However, Fernandes did not want to go down without a fight. She pushed Gonlusen to the bring in the second set, but Gonlusen battled back to win 7-5.
 
Lukacova put the final piece in place for a Bears' victory. The senior defeated Valpo's Brynn Steven 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 3 match.
 
Missouri State will continue its road trip with a stop at UIC on Sunday, March 23 at 11:00 a.m.
   
Results
Missouri State (2-13, 1-0 MVC) – 4, Valparaiso (3-9, 0-1 MVC) – 3
Doubles
1. Tuana Gunal/Billur Gonlusen (MOST) defeated Brynn Steven/Moira Silva (VALO) – 6-2
2. Sandra Lukacova/Raluca Puscas (MOST) defeated Lacey Tanner/Lillian Kelly (VALPO) – 6-2
3. Lola Federski/Romy Pols (MOST) won by default
 
Order of Finish: 2, 1
 
Singles
1. Tuana Gunal (MOST) lost to Moira Silva (VALPO) – 6-3, 6-1
2. Billur Gonlusen (MOST) defeated Jolene Fernandes (VALPO) – 6-0, 7-5
3. Sandra Lukacova (MOST) defeated Brynn Steven (VALPO) – 6-3, 6-3
4. Raluca Puscas (MOST) lost to Lacey Tanner (VALPO) – 6-7 (2), 6-1, 7-5
5. Romy Pols (MOST) lost to Lillian Kelly (VALPO) – 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Lola Federski (MOST) won by default
 
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3, 5, 4