Women's Tennis | 3/5/2026 3:00:00 PM

NAPERVILLE — The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s tennis programs opened the spring portion of the 2025-26 season in mid-February. The stretch included a range of results across the league, highlighted by continued success for nationally recognized teams and multiple matchups against opponents from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and Midwest Conference (MWC). 
 
The non-conference schedule serves as preparation ahead of several spring break trips to Florida and South Carolina.
 
Cardinals Maintain Spotless Record with Naperville Victory
North Central remained unbeaten last Friday with a 6-1 win over Judson at the Naperville Tennis Club. The Cardinals, led by interim head coach Joey Leto, improved to 11-0 overall.
 
North Central secured the doubles point with wins at No. 1 doubles from Abigail Penados and Kensington Payne (6-3) and at No. 2 doubles from Kate Herlihy and Liveta Ezerskis (6-4). Penados and Payne improved to 11-2 as a pairing.
 
In singles, Penados won in straight sets at No. 1 singles, while Ezerskis earned a three-set win at No. 3 singles to clinch the match. Additional singles points came from Herlihy and Meghan McSweeney. Anais Gerard received a default win at No. 6 singles.
 
Thunder Navigate Split Weekend Against Regional Rivals
Wheaton played two non-conference matches during the latter half of February and closed the stretch with a 10-3 overall record.
 
On Feb. 21, the Thunder defeated the St. Francis (Ill.) 6-1 at the Centre Court Athletic Club in Hanover Park. Wheaton swept all three doubles flights, then added five singles wins to complete the victory.
 
Last Saturday, Wheaton dropped a 5-2 decision to Kalamazoo. Mia Luo remained unbeaten in singles play with a win at No. 6 singles, and CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week Sophie Dew recorded a three-set comeback victory in singles.
 
Pioneers Secure Winning Record Through Active February Slate
Carroll went 1-2 over three matches in the month of February and moved to 7-6 overall.
 
On Feb. 14 in De Pere, Wis., the Pioneers fell 4-3 to Hamline despite singles wins from Natasa Pupovac, Mia Franke and Erin Horzewski. Carroll later earned a 6-1 win over St. Norbert, taking two of three doubles matches and five of six singles flights, including straight-set singles wins from Katherine Trifilio and Horzewski.
 
Carroll followed last Saturday with a 6-1 home victory over Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The Pioneers swept doubles, highlighted by a tiebreak win at No. 3 doubles from Franke and Gracie Niebler, and then collected six singles wins from Pupovac, Trifilio, Franke, Nawal Souki, Makayla Counsell and Horzewski.
 
Titans Open Spring Schedule with Road Victory
Illinois Wesleyan opened its spring schedule with a 5-2 win at Principia on Feb. 21 in Elsah, Ill.. The Titans improved to 8-5 overall.
 
IWU swept doubles with wins from Amber Ehrlich and Olivia Bell, Katie Van Heuklon and Gabi Lipske, and the freshman tandem of Adia Douglas and Elana Religioso. In singles, Bell and Douglas won in straight sets, Religioso improved to 13-0 in singles with a win at No. 6, and Van Heuklon added a point at No. 3 singles with a match tiebreak victory.
 
Vikings and Firebirds Face Challenging Non-Conference Opponents
Augustana opened its spring slate with two road losses in Iowa, falling to Coe College (7-0) on Saturday and Cornell (4-3) on Sunday. Against Cornell, the Vikings won the doubles point with victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, then added two singles wins to keep the match close.
 
Carthage also faced a demanding road schedule, dropping matches at Saint Mary’s (Ind.) on Feb. 21 (6-1) and at Lake Forest last Saturday (6-1). Bella Rizzo earned the lone point against Saint Mary’s with a three-set singles win. Against Lake Forest, freshman Valentina Huesca secured her first collegiate victory at No. 6 singles.
 
North Park began its spring season last Sunday with a 5-2 loss to St. Francis. The Vikings earned singles wins from Thea Gifvars and Holly Chleboun, and Chleboun teamed with Jessica Dudas for a win at No. 2 doubles.
 
Conference Members Prepare for Transition to Southern Venues
Several CCIW programs will continue non-conference play during spring break.
 
North Central opens its Florida trip on Friday against Carnegie Mellon at 6:30 p.m., followed by matches against Dickinson (Sunday) and Ohio Northern (March 9).
 
Carroll is scheduled to face LeTourneau on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Hilton Head, S.C., then will play Hardin-Simmons (March 9) and Catholic (March 11).

Carthage will meet Cornell on March 9 in Orlando, Fla. at 5 p.m. … Wheaton begins its spring trip on March 11 against Minnesota Morris at 6 p.m. in Altamonte Springs, Fla. … Illinois Wesleyan opens a four-match Florida slate on March 15 against Coe.