Valparaiso Tennis Beats UNI in Finale for Coach Bob Modesto and Seniors

Valparaiso University’s men’s tennis team concluded its 2025-26 season with a decisive 6-1 victory over visiting University of Northern Iowa on Sunday morning, securing the program’s highest win total in two decades. The win marked the final match for head coach Bob Modesto and the team’s graduating seniors, who were honored in a pre-match ceremony before taking the court at the university’s tennis facility in Valparaiso, Indiana.

The Crusaders improved to 18-8 on the season with the victory, surpassing the previous program benchmark of 17 wins set during the 2004-05 campaign. Valpo had entered the match needing just one win to reach the milestone and delivered it in dominant fashion by sweeping five of six singles matches and capturing the doubles point.

In singles play, Valparaiso earned wins at the No. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 positions. Senior captain Ethan Rivera secured a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles over UNI’s Lucas Moreau, while fellow graduating senior Marcus Chen won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2. Junior transfer Diego Morales clinched the deciding point with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles. The Crusaders also took matches at No. 4 (Liam O’Connor, 6-1, 6-2) and No. 6 (Benicio Ruiz, 6-0, 6-1), with UNI avoiding a shutout through a 6-4, 7-5 win by Noah Bennett at No. 5 singles.

Doubles play began with Valparaiso claiming the point via victories at the No. 1 and 2 positions. Rivera and Chen paired for an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles over Moreau and Bennett, while Morales and O’Connor won 8-5 at No. 2 doubles. The No. 3 doubles match was not played after Valpo had already secured the overall point.

Head coach Bob Modesto, in his 14th season leading the Valparaiso program, addressed the team following the match. “This group has embodied what it means to be a Crusader student-athlete every single day,” Modesto said. “To finish the season this way — with the seniors contributing in meaningful wins and the team reaching a win total we haven’t seen in 20 years — is something we’ll all carry forward.”

Several seniors were recognized for their contributions beyond athletics. Rivera, a four-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and has accepted a position with a renewable energy firm in Chicago. Chen, a three-time academic all-conference honoree, completed his studies in data science and plans to pursue graduate work in analytics. Both players cited the balance between rigorous academics and competitive tennis as a defining aspect of their Valpo experience.

The Missouri Valley Conference, which sponsors men’s tennis as a spring sport, released its all-conference selections earlier in April. Rivera was named to the first team, while Chen earned second-team honors. Morales, who transferred to Valparaiso from a junior college in California prior to the 2024-25 season, received honorable mention recognition.

With the 2025-26 season now complete, Valparaiso men’s tennis looks ahead to rebuilding under new leadership. Athletic director Mark LaBarbera confirmed that a national search for Modesto’s successor will begin immediately, with the goal of naming a new head coach before the fall recruiting period. The program returns five letterwinners from this season’s roster, including Morales and O’Connor, who are expected to provide core leadership in the coming year.

The 18-win season represents not only a statistical milestone but also a culmination of sustained progress for a program that has emphasized player development and academic excellence throughout Modesto’s tenure. Valpo’s tennis facility underwent upgrades in 2023, including resurfaced courts and enhanced lighting for evening matches, which coaches and players cited as contributing factors to improved training conditions and home-court advantage.

As the Crusaders transition into the offseason, the focus shifts to maintaining the competitive momentum built over the past several years while honoring the legacy of the departing senior class and coaching staff. Sunday’s victory served as both a farewell and a benchmark — a reminder of what the program has achieved and a foundation for what it aims to accomplish next.