Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Illinois Wesleyan Box Score

Monmouth Box Score

Sept. 24, 2017 – Splitting a pair of matches at their home triangular, the North Central College women's tennis team dropped a 9-0 decision to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) foe Illinois Wesleyan University in the opener, before rebounding with a 6-3 win over non-conference opponent Monmouth College in the nightcap.
 
In the opener against Illinois Wesleyan (2-3, 2-2 CCIW), the Titans won all three doubles position in convincing fashion before sweeping singles play.  Diana Barcelata suffered her first loss of the season at No. 1 singles, despite winning the first set 7-5, Barcelata was unable to hang on against Lauren Neitzel, eventually falling 7-5, 10-6.
 
North Central (3-4) bounced back nicely in the nightcap however, jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play.  The Cardinal combination of Barcelata and Morgan House took down Katherine Hinman and Emma Johanns, 8-6 at the No. 1 position, while Tiffany Smolik and Reagan Scherpe clawed out a hard fought 9-7 win over Morgan Holle and Natalie Curtis at No. 2.
 
In singles play, Scherpe increased the Cardinal lead 3-1 after a quick 6-2, 6-0 win over Lexi Tibbs at the No. 5 position, before the Fighting Scots drew back to within one with a win at the No. 2 spot.
 
Barcelata turned in a 7-6, 6-0 win over Hinman at No. 1 to give North Central a 4-2 advantage, before Smolik sealed the win with a 2-6, 6-3, 11-9 comeback victory over Holle at No. 4.  Just for good measure, Katie Legorreta won her first set over McKenzie DeVilder, 6-4, but dropped the second 5-7 before responding with a 10-8 win in the tiebreaker.
 
North Central is null until Sunday, Oct. 1, continuing CCIW play against Augustana College with matches at 3 p.m. at the NCC Tennis Courts.