NAPERVILLE — With the 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tennis Championship approaching, the final weeks of the regular season have featured several notable results and milestones. 
 
Conference programs continued non-conference competition across the region while preparing for postseason play, with individual achievements and team results shaping the closing stretch of the schedule.
 
Vikings’ Veteran Reaches the Century Mark
Augustana senior Hannah Colbert recorded her 100th career victory during a dual match against Monmouth last Monday, earning a straight-set win at No. 1 singles (6-2, 6-4) as part of a 6-1 team result. The Vikings also swept doubles play in the match. 
 
Colbert accounted for Augustana’s lone point in a 6-1 loss to Lake Forest on April 8, winning a three-set contest at No. 1 singles (7-5, 3-6, 10-8). She posted a 2-0 record in singles and a 2-1 mark in doubles during the reporting period, which included a 7-6 (1) doubles win against St. Ambrose with Anna-Maria Huebel. Colbert was subsequently named the CCIW Women’s Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week.
 
Cardinals Fly into National Rankings
North Central entered the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national poll at No. 47 and competed at the Midwestern Invitational in Madison, Wis. The Cardinals dropped matches to No. 23 Denison and No. 28 Wisconsin-La Crosse on April 3 before securing a 5-2 win over No. 55 Luther the following day, marking the first victory over a ranked opponent for interim head coach Joey Leto. 
 
Senior Abigail Penados contributed at the top singles position, forcing a tiebreaker against Denison and later winning in straight sets against Luther (6-0, 6-2). North Central also recognized its senior class – Penados, Kensington Payne, Liveta Ezerskis and Sophia Drozd – following a 6-1 loss to UC Santa Cruz last Saturday.
 
Titans Turn Back the Clock to 1991
Illinois Wesleyan concluded its season with a 12-6 overall record, marking the program’s highest win total since 1991. The Titans closed the campaign with a 4-3 win over Greenville on April 8 at Evergreen Racquet Club. The deciding point came at No. 1 singles, where junior Amber Ehrlich rallied in a third-set super tiebreak (7-5, 1-6, 10-7). Freshmen Adia Douglas and Elana Religioso earned a 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles, while Douglas also secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles.
 
Thunder Strikes in Tight Non-Conference Clash
Wheaton recorded a 4-3 non-conference win over Wisconsin-Eau Claire last Saturday, securing the doubles point with victories at No. 1 and No. 2. Madeline Gentry and Tatum Thurstone earned a 5-4 decision at the top position, while Janet Kondo and Ella Malone won 7-5 at No. 2 doubles. 
 
In singles play, Gentry recovered from a first-set loss to win at No. 1 (4-6, 6-4, 10-4). Malone added a straight-set win at No. 3, and freshman Mia Luo contributed a 6-2, 6-2 result at No. 6. The victory moved Wheaton to 14-4 overall.
 
Vikings Hold Their Own Against Regional Powerhouses
North Park faced several regional opponents over the past two weeks, including Wisconsin-Stevens Point last Sunday. Alexandra Pugachova recorded a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles in that match, while Jessica Dudas added a three-set victory at No. 4 (6-3, 2-6, 6-4). 
 
On April 8, North Park earned a 6-1 road win over MSOE, with straight-set singles victories from Pugachova, Emilia Sand, Thea Gifvars and Dudas. Holly Chleboun also secured a point at No. 5 singles with a second-set tiebreak win.
 
Firebirds Find Footing on the Road
Carthage earned a 5-2 road win over Lawrence on Thursday after dropping the doubles point, winning five of six singles matches. Bella Rizzo opened the comeback with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles, followed by Jordan Miller’s 6-0, 6-0 result at No. 4. Niki Manojlovic and Valentina Huesca added straight-set victories, and Greta Peterson secured the final point with a 7-6 (9-7) second-set tiebreak. The Firebirds improved to 8-9 overall.
 
The Road to the Championship
Conference teams will complete the regular season this weekend before the start of the CCIW Tournament next Thursday. Several non-conference matches remain on the schedule, including North Central’s trip to face No. 2 WashU on Saturday at 10 a.m.
 
Additional Saturday matchups include Augustana at Luther (1 p.m.), North Park at Concordia Wisconsin (noon) and Wheaton hosting Coe (2:45 p.m.). Carroll is at Edgewood on Sunday at 9:30 a.m., while Carthage hosts MSOE Sunday at 4:15 p.m.