Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant

NAPERVILLE. Ill. (April 11, 2026) – The North Central College women's tennis program honored its four seniors after its match against the University of California, Santa Cruz at the Naperville Tennis Club on Saturday. The Cardinals recognized Abigail Penados, Kensington Payne, Liveta Ezerskis and Sophia Drozd after falling in the contest to the Banana Slugs 6-1.

In doubles, Payne and Penados were unable to grab a win in the top slot, falling 6-3. However, Ezerskis and her partner Kate Herlihy scratched out a 7-6 victory to tie the doubles score at one.

The Cardinals were unable to earn the doubles point, however, as Drozd and her partner, Meghan McSweeny, fell 6-0 in straight sets.

In singles, Penados dropped the opening set 6-3, but dominated her way to a second set victory by the tally of 6-1. Her opponent bounced back in the third, stealing set 6-2.

Payne fell in her contest as well, but it was by the slimmest of margins, losing 7-6, 7-5 in the number two spot.

After losing the opening set of her match 6-2, Ezerskis came back to win the second set 7-6, but couldn't quite complete the reverse sweep, as she dropped the third and final set 1-0 in a tie breaking game to 10. 

Herlihy also dropped her singles contest. After taking the opening set 6-4, she was unable to get any other momentum going, losing the next two sets 6-0, 6-2, respectively.

Meghan McSweeney also found herself in a battle, but was unable to come out of it with a "w," falling in a tight 6-4, 7-6 affair.

Drozd was the lone singles win for the Cardinals on the night. After Drozd won the first set 6-2, her opponent retired, giving her the win and the Cardinals their first point.

The Cardinals are back in action a week from today. They'll head south to St. Louis to take on Washington University, which ranks among the top women's tennis programs in the nation.