Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 15, 2024) - Earning their fifth straight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Regular Season Championship, the North Central College women's tennis team defeated North Park University, 5-2, on Tuesday afternoon inside Naperville Tennis Club. The Cardinals share the league title with the Vikings and Wheaton College in a three-way tie.

After dropping the match at No. 2 doubles, Abigail Penados and Kensington Payne cruised to a 6-1 victory at the top spot. Capturing the doubles team point, Kayla McSweeney and Anastasia Bozovic battled to a tight 7-6 (7-2) win at No. 3, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.

Priya Harris rolled to a 7-5, 6-1 victory at No. 3 singles before Kate Herlihy picked up a straight set win over Alexandra Pugachova at No. 5, 6-4, 6-1. The Vikings won at No. 6 singles to make the score 3-1. Ainara Casado Cedillo clinched North Central's fifth straight conference championship with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-0 win at No. 4. Penados earned a comeback 1-6 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 1 to close out the match.

The Cardinals conclude their fall season with a 7-1 record while having an impressive showing at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association DIII Central Region Championships. North Central returns to the court in February with a match against the defending national champions in the University of Chicago. That contest is scheduled for Feb. 22 inside XS Tennis in Chicago

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