Illinois Tech

Kohler, Wis. - Illinois Tech men's and women's tennis secured Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) championships on Sunday afternoon, with the women defeating Edgewood University 4-2, followed by the men defeating MSOE 4-3 at Sports Core in Kohler, Wisconsin. With their conference titles in hand, both teams earned the NACC's automatic berths into the NCAA Division III Tennis Championships, taking place next weekend. Opponents and site locations will be announced on Monday, May 4th.

Women's tennis improved to 11-9 overall, and secured their second NCAA tournament berth in the programs history.

Men's tennis improved to 14-5, and qualified for their sixth NCAA tournament appearance over their last seven seasons.

Both the women's and men's teams had to overcome 1-0 deficits after doubles play.

In the women's match, the Scarlet Hawks won the first three singles matches to jump in front 3-1, then withstood a rally by the Eagles when Angelica Conwell scored a three-set victory in the number six singles match. Conwell dropped the first set 1-6, but won back-to-back tiebreakers in the second and third sets to win 7-6(7-3), 7-6(7-4) to clinch the fourth and deciding point for the Hawks.

Head Coach Jack Lunn was impressed with the resolve the women's team displayed during a tough, back and forth match with the Eagles.

"This championship was the culmination of an incredible season's worth of effort and belief from the women," said Lunn. "This was a true team win in every sense and I'm so thrilled with how we both competed and supported each other. We played strong doubles despite not coming away with the point and belief never wavered during the singles. Maddalena and Maia have been absolute rocks in the lineup for us this year and the championship efforts from Thea and Angie specifically were truly special. I'm so proud and happy for this group." 

The men's match was even tighter. After falling behind after doubles play, 1-0, the men's team also won the first three singles matches to take a 3-1 lead. But the Raiders battled back, winning the number 3 and 4 singles matches to tie the match at 3-3. That left the number five singles match, and Hozumi Tada, after falling behind 2-6 after the first set, won the next two sets 6-2, 6-4 to clinch the match victory for the Scarlet Hawks.

For Lunn and the men's team, the conference championship was a culmination of the focus the team had in making the NACC postseason title their season-long goal.

"I'm so happy with the team effort from the men this afternoon," Lunn said. "We never shied away from talking about this championship as our team goal throughout the season and that belief was tested time and time again today. To rally after losing doubles yet again really speaks to the resilience of this group and Hozumi's efforts deep in the third set to clinch this trophy will be remembered in this program for a long time. We can't wait for nationals."

NACC Women's Tennis Championship: Illinois Tech 4 - Edgewood University 2

How It Happened

Edgewood claimed the doubles point with victories at No. 3 and No. 1 doubles. Christina Ekkela and Kaitlyn Narkis secured a 6-1 win over Paige Geiger and Angelica Conwell at No. 3 doubles. This was followed by Evelyn Taylor and Hattie Plenty's 6-3 victory against Martyna Kalinowska and Thea Salcedo at No. 1 doubles. Illinois Tech's Maddalena Dumangane and Maia Lecuona Ramos earned a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles over Lauryn Krober and Sophia Perret.

In singles play, Illinois Tech quickly responded, with Maddalena Dumangane defeating Hattie Plenty 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2 singles. Salcedo followed with a 6-1, 7-6(4) victory over Sophia Perret at No. 3 singles, putting the Scarlet Hawks ahead. Maia Lecuona Ramos extended the lead by winning at No. 4 singles against Kaitlyn Narkis, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Illinois Tech clinched the match with Angelica Conwell's win over Lauryn Krober at No. 6 singles, 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(4). Despite Evelyn Taylor's 6-3, 7-6(7) victory over Martyna Kalinowska at No. 1 singles for the Eagles, the Scarlet Hawks secured a decisive 4-2 final dual score.

Doubles  
------------------------------------  
Evelyn Taylor/Hattie Plenty (EDGE) def. Martyna Kalinowska/Thea Salcedo (IITWT) 6-3  
Maddalena Dumangane/Maia Lecuona Ramos (IITWT) def. Lauryn Krober/Sophia Perret (EDGE) 6-3  
Christina Ekkela/Kaitlyn Narkis (EDGE) def. Paige Geiger/Angelica Conwell (IITWT) 6-1  
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1  

Singles  
------------------------------------  
Evelyn Taylor (EDGE) def. Martyna Kalinowska (IITWT) 6-3, 7-6(7-5)  
Maddalena Dumangane (IITWT) def. Hattie Plenty (EDGE) 6-3, 6-3  
Thea Salcedo (IITWT) def. Sophia Perret (EDGE) 6-1, 7-6(7-4)  
Maia Lecuona Ramos (IITWT) def. Kaitlyn Narkis (EDGE) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3  
Christina Ekkela (EDGE) def. Paige Geiger (IITWT) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4  
Angelica Conwell (IITWT) def. Lauryn Krober (EDGE) 1-6, 7-6(7-3), 7-6(7-4)  
Order of finish: 2, 3, 4, 1, 6

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

Angelica Conwell
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- 1 singles win
- 1 doubles loss

Maia Lecuona Ramos
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- 1 singles win
- 1 doubles win

Maddalena Dumangane
----------------------
- 1 singles win
- 1 doubles win

Thea Salcedo
----------------------
- 1 singles win
- 1 doubles loss

Match Notes:
- Illinois Tech improved to 3-7 lifetime against Edgewood, winning both matches this season.

NACC Men's Tennis Championship: Illinois Tech 4 - MSOE 3

How It Happened

Illinois Tech fell short in capturing the doubles point as MSOE secured victories at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. MSOE's Randy Funez and Carlos Lopez defeated Illinois Tech's Tanay Sharma and Alexander Feher 6-3 at No. 1 doubles, followed by a 6-2 win for MSOE's Augusto Yamazaki and Pedro Mendes against Pol Dueso Guell and Tejas Sheth at No. 3 doubles. Illinois Tech did claim a victory at No. 2 doubles, where Pedro Roca and Hozumi Tada won 6-3 over Miguel Lopez and Emilio Ulloa.

In singles play, Illinois Tech quickly balanced the match as Pedro Roca scored a decisive 6-0, 6-2 victory over Randy Funez at No. 2 singles. Tanay Sharma added to Illinois Tech's tally with a 6-1, 6-4 win against Miguel Lopez at No. 1 singles, advancing the dual score to 2-1 in favor of Illinois Tech. Joseph Au further extended the lead by defeating Pedro Mendes 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.

Alexander Feher faced a tough contest and fell to Augusto Yamazaki in a three-set battle, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 3 singles, bringing the score to 3-2. However, Hozumi Tada clinched the match for the Scarlet Hawks with a strong performance at No. 5 singles, overcoming Carlos Lopez 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Despite a loss at No. 4 singles, where Carlos Patino defeated Pol Dueso Guell 6-4, 6-3, Illinois Tech emerged victorious with a final dual score of 4-3.

Doubles  
------------------------------------  
Randy Funez/Carlos Lopez (MSOE) def. Tanay Sharma/Alexander Feher (Scarlet Hawks) 6-3  
Pedro Roca/Hozumi Tada (Scarlet Hawks) def. Miguel Lopez/Emilio Ulloa (Raiders) 6-3  
Augusto Yamazaki/Pedro Mendes (Raiders) def. Pol Dueso Guell/Tejas Sheth (Scarlet Hawks) 6-2  
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3  

Singles  
------------------------------------  
Tanay Sharma (Scarlet Hawks) def. Miguel Lopez (Raiders) 6-1, 6-4  
Pedro Roca (Scarlet Hawks) def. Randy Funez (Raiders) 6-0, 6-2  
Augusto Yamazaki (Raiders) def. Alexander Feher (Scarlet Hawks) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3  
Carlos Patino (Raiders) def. Pol Dueso Guell (Scarlet Hawks) 6-4, 6-3  
Hozumi Tada (Scarlet Hawks) def. Carlos Lopez (Raiders) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4  
Joseph Au (Scarlet Hawks) def. Pedro Mendes (Raiders) 6-2, 6-1  
Order of finish: 2, 1, 6, 4, 3, 5  

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

Pedro Roca
----------------------
- 1 singles match won
- 1 doubles match won

Joseph Au
----------------------
- 1 singles match won

Hozumi Tada
----------------------
- 1 singles match won
- 1 doubles match won

Tanay Sharma
----------------------
- 1 singles match won

Match Notes:
- Illinois Tech improved to 9-3 overall lifetime against the Raiders, winning the last three matches.