BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's tennis team serves up its 2026-27 campaign Saturday, Sept. 5 at home against Lawrence University. First serve is slated for 9 a.m. at Evergreen Racquet Club.

IWU is coming off of a historic season, finishing 12-6, marking the first winning season since 2010-11. The Titans return two seniors including their top doubles tandem from a year ago of three-time All-CCIW selectee Amber Ehrlich (Springfield, Ill.-Glenwood) and Olivia Bell (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington). The pair finished with a 14-6 mark. Ehrlich closed at 10-10 at the top singles spot while Bell went 10-6 at No. 4 singles. Junior Katie Van Heuklon (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition last season after going 10-8 in singles and 11-7 in doubles. 

Sophomores Adia Douglas (Flossmoor, Ill.-Homewood Flossmoor) and Elana Religioso (Mahomet, Ill.-Mahomet-Seymour) went 12-6 in doubles last season. Douglas closed with a 14-3 mark in singles while Religioso finished at 16-2 across the No. 5 and No. 6 spots after starting the season with a perfect 13-0 record. Sophomores Maggie Klein (Sycamore, Ill.-Sycamore) and Avery Anderson (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community) round out the second-year class.

Director of Tennis and head coach Jason Van Heuklon recruited a freshmen class that contains five Illinois High School Association state qualifiers. Joining the Titans in 2026 are Lexi Burton (Metamora, Ill.-Metamora), Aubrey Dickey (Antioch, Ill.-Antioch Community), Charisma Hill (Kankakee, Ill.-Kankakee), Alassea Michel (Dunlap, Ill.-Dunlap), Lydia Ryherd (Chatham, Ill.-Chatham Glenwood), and Holly Turnbull (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington).

Illinois Wesleyan holds a 2-0 lead in the young all-time series dating back to 2024. Last season, IWU claimed a 4-3 win that included singles victories from Gabi Lipske, Bell, Douglas, and Religioso.

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