Women’s Tennis Hosts Lawrence to Open 2024-25 Season

Action set to begin at 2 p.m. at Evergreen Racquet Club

9/5/2024 2:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Coming off a year that saw great improvement, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's tennis team will open the 2024-25 season at home, as the Titans host Lawrence University Saturday, Sept. 7. Action is set to begin at 2 p.m. at Evergreen Racquet Club.

Head Coach Jason Van Heuklon returns for his third year at the helm, but brings on additional roles as he was elevated to the Director of Tennis prior to the start of the season. Van Heuklon returns six letterwinners from the 2023-24 season that posted an overall record of 7-11 and made the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign. The seven wins marked the most in a season since 2012-13.

Headlining the returners is sophomore Amber Ehrlich (Springfield, Ill.-Glenwood), who earned Second Team All-CCIW honors in her freshman campaign. Ehrlich came in with an expertise in doubles through high school and quickly took on the role as the No. 1 singles player for the Titans. The Springfield, Ill. native finished with a record of 4-4 in conference play. At No.1 doubles, Ehrlich, alongside fellow then-freshman Olivia Bell (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington), notched a victory in a challenging CCIW slate. Ehrlich became the first Titan to earn all-conference honors since Lauren Neitzel in 2017.

The Titans will see three new faces donning the Green and White this season, as freshmen Gabi Lipske (Gurnee, Ill.-Mundelein), Katie Van Heuklon (Normal, Ill.-Normal West), and Angela Zatloka (Justice, Ill.-Argo Community) are set to make their collegiate debuts.

IWU will face Lawrence for the first time in program history. The Vikings (0-1) dropped their season opener to University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 6-1, Tuesday, Sept. 3, and will face Lakeland University Thursday, Sept. 5, before making the trip down.

Prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, the NCAA changed the scoring format for dual matches in Division III, moving from a seven point format instead of the previously used nine-point total. Better aligning with the scoring system used at NCAA Division I and II, doubles matches will result in one point instead of three individually scored points. The team that wins two of the three doubles matches (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3) will earn the doubles point, while singles scoring will remain the same.

Results will be posted on iwusports.com upon the completion of the match.

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