BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER, 12: Titan Athletics (Photo by Ashtin Elder/AJE Photography)

AJE Photography 2026

Bell’s Comeback Secures Vital Victory for Women’s Tennis

First win over North Central since 2017

9/29/2026 8:58:00 PM

NAPERVILLE, Ill.- After dropping the first set, 7-6 (4), senior Olivia Bell (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) dominated the next two sets, securing a 7-6, 6-1, 6-1 win and a 4-3 victory for the Illinois Wesleyan University women's tennis team over College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe North Central College Tuesday, Sept. 29. IWU improves to 3-3 (2-2 CCIW) while NCC drops to 1-3 (1-3 CCIW).

The Titans claimed the doubles point, winning the first two matches. Senior Amber Ehrlich (Springfield, Ill.-Glenwood) and Bell defeated Berkeley Klarich and Kate Herlihy, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles. Sophomores Adia Douglas (Flossmoor, Ill.-Homewood-Flossmoor) and Elana Religioso (Mahomet, Ill.-Mahomet-Seymour) won 6-1 over Abigaile Heintz and Alexa Zaskowski to secure the 1-0 lead.

In singles, NCC won on courts two and three to take a 2-1 lead. Ehrlich evened the match at 2-2 with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 win over Klarich at No. 1 singles. A Cardinal win at No. 4 singles coupled with Douglas' 6-1, 6-0 victory over Heintz on court six evened the match at 3-3. At No. 5 singles, Bell was down 5-2 in the first set before coming back to force a tiebreaker, which was ultimately won by Zaskowski. Bell bounced back, claiming the second set 6-1. She used the momentum, winning the final five games of the third set, clinching the 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-1 win and the match 4-3.

The win marks the first victory for IWU over NCC since 2017 and vaults the Titans into fourth-place in the CCIW with four matches to play. Up next, the Green and White continues its road trip with a two-match weekend beginning at Wheaton College Friday, Oct. 2. First serve against the reigning CCIW champions is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Doubles:
1. Ehrlich, Amber/Bell, Olivia (IWU) def. Klarich, Berkeley/Herlihy, Kate (NCC) 6-3
2. McSweeney, Meghan/Gerard, Anais (NCC) def. Van Heuklon, Katie/Michel, Alassea (IWU) 6-3
3. Douglas, Adia/Religioso, Elana (IWU) def. Heintz, Abigail/Zaskowski, Alexa (NCC) 6-1

Singles:
1. Ehrlich, Amber (IWU) def. Klarich, Berkeley (NCC) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0
2. Herlihy, Kate (NCC) def. Michel, Alassea (IWU) 6-0, 7-6 (6)
3. McSweeney, Meghan (NCC) def. Van Heuklon, Katie (IWU) 6-3, 4-1 (ret.)
4. Gerard, Anais (NCC) def. Religioso, Elana (IWU) 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-2
5. Bell, Olivia (IWU) def. Zaskowski, Ava (NCC) 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-1
6. Douglas, Adia (IWU) def. Heintz, Abigail (NCC) 6-1, 6-0

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