MVC Tennis Weekly Honors (Feb. 3)

ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Conference announced the women’s tennis weekly honors on Tuesday. Moira Silva of Valparaiso was named Singles Player of the Week, Emma Lindh and Vittoria Benedetti of Illinois State were named Doubles Team of the Week.

 

SINGLES PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Moira Silva (Houston, TX) | Valparaiso | Singles 

Valpo senior Moira Silva enjoyed a perfect 2-0 week at No. 1 Singles, taking down a pair of all-conference performers from last season by winning both of her matches. Silva played a crucial role in Valpo's first victory over Butler since 2007 on Saturday as her three-set win at No. 1 Singles helped the Beacons stop an 11-match head-to-head losing streak. She defeated Butler's Chase Metcalf 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, reserving a 7-5, 7-5 loss to Metcalf from last season. That helped Valpo turn last year's 7-0 loss to the Bulldogs into a 4-3 victory this season. Metcalf was a unanimous First Team All-Big East performer last season. Silva's success continued on Sunday as she dropped just two games in an impressive 6-1, 6-1 victory over Western Illinois' Richardlyne Francois at No. 1 Singles. Francois was an All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team choice last season and earned the league's Freshman of the Year Award. Silva improved to 9-2 overall and 7-0 in dual matches this season, climbing into a tie for sixth in program history with her 57th career singles win. 

DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK:

Emma Lindh (Malmo, Sweden) | Vittoria Benedetti (Montecatini, Italy) | Illinois State | Doubles

The Illinois State No. 3 doubles team of Emma Lindh and Vittoria Benedetti went 2–0 on the week, helping the Redbirds pick up a pair of team victories. The duo opened with a 6-4 win over Western Illinois before closing the week with a 6-2 victory against Saint Louis. Lindh and Benedetti’s consistent play at the No. 3 position contributed to Illinois State finishing the week undefeated.