Chicago, Ill. - For Illinois Tech women's tennis, the 2026-27 season isn't about starting over — it's about building on momentum. After a remarkable run last year that saw the Scarlet Hawks rise from preseason middle-of-the-pack predictions to a conference championship and an NCAA berth, head coach Jack Lunn enters his first full preseason with something new: time.

"It's been great to have a little more of a runway than we had last year to really ramp up," Lunn said. "This time allows us to be process-oriented instead of results-oriented, at least in the early part of the season."

With a full preseason to prepare and a core of experienced returners, Illinois Tech is shifting from underdog to having the target on their backs — and learning what it means to play as the team everyone else is chasing.

Finding Their Rhythm Early

Last season, Lunn joined the program midyear and immediately had to manage matches. This fall, the Scarlet Hawks have space to build deliberately. The nine-player roster features veterans who logged significant minutes in 2025-26 and two first-years who have blended seamlessly into the team's "super supportive atmosphere."

The early schedule is designed to challenge and calibrate. "We've got a couple strong non-conference matches lined up before we start conference play," Lunn said, pointing to Cornell College (the Hawks dropped the match 0-7 on August 30th) — a nationally ranked program in 2025-26 — and an improved North Park squad. The goal is less about quick wins and more about problem-solving under pressure, testing lineups, and getting everyone comfortable in match play before the conference gauntlet begins.

"We want to put ourselves in as many competitively challenging scenarios as we can before we get into the gauntlet of conference play," he said. With a league where "five of the eight programs are right around the same level," every week demands focus. The Scarlet Hawks open conference play with MSOE, Concordia Wisconsin, and Edgewood — all teams Lunn expects to be in the top cluster of the standings.

Stepping Into the Spotlight

The biggest shift from a year ago isn't tactical — it's psychological. "We have a little more of a target on our backs than we did last year," Lunn said. "We were coming in pretty under the radar." Now, opponents circle Illinois Tech on the schedule. That attention brings new pressure, but also new confidence.

"Last year was really special and a lot of things definitely went our way," Lunn said. "Now we have to deal with a little more expectation coming into the year. That presents a different challenge."

Having players who have "been there and done it before" makes a difference. The returners know how to navigate a tight conference race, and their experience is helping the first-years adjust to college tennis. The coaching staff has grown, too, with the addition of assistant coach Franklin Maggay, whose technical expertise has already elevated day-to-day practices.

"It was really just me figuring everything out day to day last year," Lunn said. "It's been really helpful to have someone like Frankie to balance the load. His mechanical knowledge of tennis has been super helpful, especially on the women's side."

Embracing the Next Step

As the Scarlet Hawks look to defend their conference crown, Lunn is careful to keep the team grounded. "Everyone starts with a blank slate," he said. The past season fuels belief, but it doesn't guarantee results. The emphasis remains on steady improvement, competitive composure, and maintaining the culture that carried them in 2025.

"We want to be able to take positives away from that accomplishment last year," Lunn said. "It gives our team a ton of confidence coming into this year. We want to use that, and not necessarily leave that fully in the past — but it definitely brings a different level of expectation."

For Illinois Tech women's tennis, that expectation isn't a burden — it's a benchmark. The Scarlet Hawks aren't sneaking up on anyone anymore. They're ready for the chase."