Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

Written by: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302

ITA DIII Women's Tennis Academic Awards

July 23, 2025 – The North Central College women's tennis team has earned its eighth consecutive All-Academic Team Award from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for its exceptional performances in the classroom while Abigail Penados, Sophia Drozd, Liveta Ezerskis, Ainara Casado Cedillo, Kate Herlihy, Anais Gerard, and Kayla McSweeney were each named Scholar Athletes.

To earn the All-Academic Team award, a team must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 or higher. All student-athletes on the roster must be counted. Student-athletes need a GPA of 3.5 or higher to claim individual academic honors.

McSweeney, a social science and history major, earns Scholar Athlete distinction for the third time. McSweeney went 1-1 in singles play and recorded four wins and four losses in doubles action. She posted a 3-4 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin record in doubles play.

An environmental science and biology major, Herlihy picks up the award for the second time. Herlihy posted an 11-8 record in singles play with a 7-1 record in conference matches. In doubles play, Herlihy held a 3-7 record and was 1-2 in conference play.

Penados, an exercise science major, won 20 matches and lost six in singles action. In the No. 1 singles spot, Penados was 18-5 and held a clean slate in conference action (10-0) to earn the CCIW Player of the Year honor. She posted 20 wins and seven losses in doubles play while going 18-6 at the No. 1 doubles spot and 10-0 in CCIW matches.

An applied mathematics major, Ezerskis posted an 8-11 record in singles with a 4-1 mark in CCIW play. She posted six wins and eight losses in doubles, and a 1-1 record in conference doubles.

Casado Cedillo, a neuroscience major, posted a 6-9 mark in singles play while going 5-2 in conference action. In doubles play, Casado Cedillo recorded a 6-9 record with a 4-3 record in the CCIW.

Drozd, an exercise science major, competed in one doubles match with a 1-0 mark at the No. 3 slot. Gerard, also an exercise science major, recorded a 1-1 record in singles and was 0-1 in doubles play.

North Central is just one of five CCIW schools to earn the team award and its seven individual honorees are among 52 CCIW representatives.

The 2025-26 season is set to begin Sept. 2 as North Central hosts Carroll University. To view the full 2025-26 schedule, click HERE. Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to
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