Olivia Bell against Elmhurst April 14, 2024

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Women’s Tennis Concludes Season in CCIW Quarterfinals

Titans fall to top-seed North Central, 5-0

4/25/2024 11:52:00 AM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Playing in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Quarterfinals for the first time since 2021, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's tennis team concluded its 2023-24 season after falling, 5-0, to top-seed North Central College Thursday morning, April 25. The Titans finish the season 7-11 overall, marking the most wins in a season since 2012-13.

Opening the contest in doubles action, freshmen Amber Ehrlich (Springfield, Ill.-Glenwood) and Olivia Bell (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) stole a pair of points from the top duo of North Central, but fell 8-2 at No. 1 doubles. The sophomore duo of Kate Christian (Washington, Ill.-Washington Community) and Raji More (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) also snagged a couple of points before falling, 8-2, in No. 2 doubles. Senior Macy Michorczyk (Franklin Park, Ill.-West Leyden) and sophomore Marianna Arias (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) fell, 8-1, at No. 3 pairs.

In singles action, Christian dropped her contest at No. 3 singles, falling in both sets 6-1. At No. 5 singles, Michorczyk dropped her sets, 6-0, to conclude her collegiate career. Ehrlich was battling at No. 2 singles, narrowly trailing 5-4 in the first set, before the match finished.

North Central (21-7) advances to tomorrow's CCIW Semifinal match, and will play the winner of Augustana and Carthage at 10 a.m.

Head Coach Jason Van Heuklon returns nine of the 10 players on the 2023-24 team for the 2024-25 campaign.

Singles competition
1. Penados, Abigail (NCCW) vs. Ehrlich, Amber (IWU) 5-4, unfinished
2. Bassett, Natalie (NCCW) vs. Bell, Olivia (IWU) 6-0, unfinished
3. Payne, Kensington (NCCW) def. Christian, Kate (IWU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Edquiban, Mikayla (NCCW) vs. More, Raji (IWU) 6-0, 5-0, unfinished
5. Herlihy, Kate (NCCW) def. Michorczyk, Macy (IWU) 6-0, 6-0
6. McSweeney, Kayla (NCCW) vs. Arias, Marianna (IWU) 6-2, 1-0, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Penados, Abigail/Bassett, Natalie (NCCW) def. Ehrlich, Amber/Bell, Olivia (IWU) 8-2
2. Payne, Kensington/Herlihy, Kate (NCCW) def. Christian, Kate/More, Raji (IWU) 8-2
3. Edquiban, Mikayla/McSweeney, Kayla (NCCW) def. Michorczyk, Macy/Arias, Marianna (IWU) 8-1

Match Notes
Ill. Wesleyan 7-11
North Central 21-7; National ranking #27; Regional ranking #9
CCIW Tournament Quarterfinals 1: No. 1 North Central vs. No. 8 Illinois Wesleyan
Order of finish: Doubles 3, 2, 1, Singles 5, 3

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