Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
CHICAGO/ELMHURST, Ill. (Oct. 7, 2023) - Clinching a share of at least their fourth straight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Championship, the North Central College women's tennis team earned a hard fought match over North Park University, 6-3, before sweeping Elmhurst University, 9-0, in the afternoon match.
The Cardinals fell behind early against the Vikings as Abigail Penados/Natalie Bassett squeaked out the lone North Central win in doubles play with an 8-7 (8-6) win at No. 1 while North Park claimed wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.
North Park also earned the first singles win of the day before Nina Patience sparked a Cardinal stretch of wins with a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 4. Penados picked up a 6-1, 6-4 win in the No. 1 position to tie the match at three. Kensington Payne secured a 6-0, 1-6, 6-1 win at No. 3 before Bassett clinched the match with a 7-6, 6-2 win over Alexandra Ristfeldt at No. 2. Kayla McSweeney picked up a 6-1, 5-7, 10-5 victory to close out the match.
In the afternoon bout, the Cardinals did not drop a game in doubles play as Penados/Bassett and Payne/Nina Patience each won 8-0 while Liveta Ezerskis/Meghan McSweeney earned a win by default at No. 3 doubles. Penados, Payne, Kate Herlihy, Ezerskis, and M. McSweeney all won in straight sets as Eva Zaskowski won by default at No. 6 singles.
North Central looks to win the CCIW outright on Friday afternoon as they host Millikin. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. at the Benet Academy Tennis Courts in Lisle.
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