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

Box Score

Apr. 27, 2021 – Cruising to a 5-0 shutout in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Automatic Qualifier Tournament opener, the top-seeded North Central College women's tennis team took down eighth-seeded Illinois Wesleyan University on Tuesday at Nike Park.
 
The Cardinals (12-5) took a 2-0 lead before matches even began, as the Titans could not field a No. 3 doubles team or the No. 6 singles position.
 
First to finish in doubles play was the Cardinal duo of Hannah Hougland and Alaina Kanthaphixay, scoring a 8-3 victory over Alessia Girardin and Rebecca Rochacz at the No. 1 position.  Sydney Sawyer and Linsy Jante then followed with a 8-4 defeat of Anna Cooper and Ashley Mohr, giving North Central a 4-0 lead and only needing one singles win to clinch the match.
 
Recently named CCIW Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, Kaeli Smashey completed a fitting conclusion to an already historic day for the Cardinals, clinching the match win with a decisive 6-1, 6-0 victory over Girardin atop the lineup.
 
North Central advances to the semi-finals of the AQ Tournament on Friday, Apr. 30 and will face fourth-seeded Millikin University at 12 p.m. at Smeds Tennis Center on the campus of host Carthage College.  The other semi-final will feature second-seeded Wheaton College and third-seeded Augustana College at 3 p.m.