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

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (May 9, 2024) - Facing Grove City College (Pa.) for the first time in school history, the North Central College women's tennis team cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Wolverines in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at Alpha Tennis. 

Kensington Payne and Kate Herlihy captured the first points of the match with an 8-0 sweep at No. 2 doubles. Mikayla Edquiban and Kayla McSweeney rolled to an 8-2 win at No. 3 before Abigail Penados and Natalie Bassett finished the doubles sweep with an 8-2 win at the top spot.

Payne took control of her singles match early, winning 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 3 fixture. Clinching the match victory, Bassett also won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2. Penados, Nina Patience, Edquiban, and Herlihy all earned first-set wins before the clinch.

The Cardinals move on to the regional semifinal match, taking on the hosts Carnegie Mellon University on Friday. The first serve is set for 2 p.m. at the Carnegie Mellon Tennis Courts.

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