Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (April 24, 2026) – Abigail Penados and Meghan McSweeney turned in 2-0 records on Friday morning, helping North Central's women's tennis program to a 4-1 win over Augustana College in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Semifinals at Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington.
The Cardinals will take on the winner of the second-seeded Wheaton College Thunder and the third-seeded Carthage College Firebirds tomorrow at noon at Evergreen Racquet Club.
The Cardinals set the tone by claiming the doubles point. Penados and Kensington Payne showed why they were among the best pairings in the conference this past fall, cruising to a 6-4 win in their match. Just moments later, the pairing of McSweeney and Sophia Drozd won their match 6-3 to clinch the point for the Cardinals.
Penados flexed her muscles at the number one singles spot, dominating in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 to put the Cardinals up 2-0 in the dual. Augustana (9-10) then claimed its lone point in the match with a 6-1, 7-5 defeat of Drozd in the number six spot, bringing the Vikings to within one (2-1).
Kate Herlihy extended the lead in the match with a straight set victory of her own, winning 6-3, 6-3. Herlihy's win put the Cardinals just one point from claiming the match and advancing to tomorrow's championship match.
McSweeney found herself in a position to send North Central (14-8) into the championship match. After winning in a nail-biter of an opening set 7-5, McSweeney sent the Cardinal faithful into a frenzy with a 6-4 second set win to clinch the match for the Cardinals 4-1.
The win snapped a three-dual skid for the program. It is also interim head coach Joey Leto's first career postseason win as the coach of both the men's and women's programs.
In the match, Penados claimed her 20th singles win of the season. She currently sits at 20-5 overall, and 18-4 in duals. The duo of Penados and Payne got their 17th win of the year, while McSweeney and Drozd got their third win as a pairing.
The Cardinals await the winner of Carthage and Wheaton tomorrow at noon at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington. Updates will be posted here on the North Central Athletics Website and here on the CCIW Tournament Homepage when available.
