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

Bracket

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Sept. 29, 2024) - Fresh off of their 50th straight win in conference play, four members of the North Central College women's tennis team competed in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Division III Central Region Championships, highlighted by a round of 16 appearances in both singles and doubles play.

After receiving a bye in the round of 128, No. 9 seed Abigail Penados cruised past Hye Jin Elliot (Adrian College) 6-2, 6-2. Taking on the No. 17 seed Katie Wong of Case Western Reserve University, Penados won 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the round of 16 for the second straight season. There, she battled the No. 1 seed Sylwia Mikos (University of Chicago), but ultimately fell 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-10.

Freshman Priya Harris beat Elizabeth Hoo of Denison University 6-1, 7-5 in the round of 128. In the following round, Harris downed Janaki Jagannathan (College of Wooster) 6-4, 6-1 to move into the round of 32. Running into the No. 6 seeded Bailtin Bui (Washington University in St. Louis), Harris lost 6-1, 6-1.

Kensington Payne defeated Sophia Rischalko (Saint Mary's College (Ind.)) 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round before falling to Amanda Lopykinski (Hope College) 6-3, 6-2. Ainara Casado Cedillo also picked up a first-round victory, beating Hailey Vandventer (Hanover College) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 before losing to Madeline Kavenagh of John Carroll University.

In doubles action, the tandem of Penados and Payne fought to an 8-7 (7-4) win in the round of 32 after receiving an opening round bye. In the round of 16, the Cardinal duo, seeded No. 8, fell to the No. 9 seed Erin Storrer and Lillia Walter of Otterbein College, 8-6.
Harris and Casado Cedillo dropped their opening round match to Hannah Colbert and Colleen Larry of Augustana College, 8-4. In the consolation bracket, Harris/Casado Cedillo beat Ella Frantz and Morgan Nation (Anderson University), 6-3 before bowing out in the consolation quarterfinals due to injury.

The Cardinals return to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play by putting their 4-0 record on the line against Wheaton College on Wednesday at 11 a.m. The match is set to be played at the Benet Academy Tennis Courts in Lisle, Ill.

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