Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (April 25, 2026) – The top-seeded North Central women's tennis program took on the second-seeded Wheaton College in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tournament Championship match on Saturday afternoon, with the Thunder pulling the upset, defeating the Cardinals 4-1.

The loss snaps a streak of five consecutive tournament championships for the Cardinals.

In doubles, Abigail Penados and Kensington Payne took home a 6-4 win, while Sophia Drozd and Meghan McSweeney fell 6-3. The doubles point came down to the match in the number two spot, featuring Liveta Ezerskis and Kate Herlihy. The pairing found themselves in a dogfight and were unable to come out on top, falling 7-5, giving Wheaton the doubles point to start the match.

Wheaton's success continued into singles play. Herlihy bounced back from a 6-2 defeat in the first set to win the second 6-1, but lost in the third set 6-3. The Thunder extended their lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-0 win in the number six spot over Drozd.

Wheaton clinched the match with a win in the number five slot: a 7-5, 6-3 defeat of McSweeney to take the match 4-1.

North Central's lone point came from Penados at the top of the lineup, who took down her opponent 6-3, 7-5. Ezerskis' match was left unfinished after Wheaton clinched the match, but she had won the opening set 7-6 and was leading 3-2 in the second before Wheaton ended the dual victorious.

North Central (14-9) is currently ranked 59th in the country. The Cardinals will now wait to see if they qualify for the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis National Tournament.