Going into the 2023-24 season, the NCC women’s tennis team was looking for continued dominance. Last season was another step forward for the Cardinals. They won the CCIW tournament for the third straight year, advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament. This provided them with a newfound hunger to stay at the top. Now, the team is looking to further place themselves among the best in the nation.
Staying on the throne
The Cardinals have been on a roll the past four years as they have established themselves as the best team in the CCIW. But the team is looking at the bigger picture: they want to be just as dominant nationally as on the CCIW level. Junior Kayla McSweeney ‘25, who has been a part of this run, kept things in perspective when talking about the upcoming season.
“With our last season being so successful, my expectations were high going into this season,” McSweeney said. “I wanted us to grow as a unit and keep working hard to achieve our goals.”
The team looks the same as last year with Abby Penados ‘26, who was a perfect 15-0 in CCIW play and the first Cardinal in program history to reach the NCAA DIII Singles Tournament, and her partner Natalie Bassett ‘25, who was named second team all-CCIW, leading the charge. The supporting cast includes seniors Nina Patience and Mikayla Edquiban, sophomore Kensington Payne, and first years Kate Herlihy and Meghan McSweeney.
Newcomer experience
The first year of college can cause most first years to struggle. Adding athletics to the mix can often exacerbate the unfamiliarity.
First year Herlihy recognizes the large commitment of becoming a collegiate student athlete. She adds that “the biggest lesson I’ve learned is being able to adapt.” She also commented that “I’ve had to learn how to balance school with tennis by adapting to different schedules.” Additionally, she mentioned getting used to balancing different school-related events and getting used to higher collegiate-level matches.
“Going into the season, I expected it to be competitive and there to be high expectations due to the success of the team,” Herlihy said. She also expressed excitement to be a part of a successful team environment.
The season so far
The 2023-24 season has been business as usual for the Cards. They pushed their winning streak to 43 as they won their fourth straight CCIW title. The team continued this success as they moved into their non-conference play. They collected wins against ranked opponents, such as Hope and Wisconsin-Whitewater, who they played twice in eight days. The tough non-conference schedule hardened the team as they now move into the CCIW conference tournament. The Cards hold the coveted top seed and are the favorites to win yet again.
“Always supporting each other and having a positive team culture was what made us so successful,” McSweeney said. She also added that “with coaches who support us and a team that is dedicated, I had no doubt we were going to have another rewarding season.”
The tournament will begin on April 25 in Bloomington. The women’s tennis team is confident that they will become the champions of the CCIW once again. This will further cement their status as among the best in Division III tennis.
