McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University women's tennis team is set to resume College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) competition with two matches this weekend. The Titans will face Carroll University at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Illinois, on Friday, October 3, with play beginning at 4 p.m. The following day, Saturday, October 4, they are scheduled to compete against Carthage College at 10 a.m.

Illinois Wesleyan currently holds a record of 4-2 overall and 1-2 in CCIW play. In their most recent outing, the Titans secured a comprehensive win over Concordia University Chicago last Sunday. The team won all doubles matches to gain an early lead. Juniors Amber Ehrlich and Olivia Bell defeated Amelia Engelman and Amirah Shakir 6-0. Sophomores Katie Van Heuklon and Gabi Lipske won against Kathleen Castillo and Arriyanna Amison by the same score. Freshmen Adia Douglas and Elana Religioso earned a 6-1 victory over Sarah Gustafson and Hannah Upole.

In singles action, Ehrlich won against Engelman with a score of 6-0, 6-0 at the top position. Lipske beat Shakir at number two singles 6-2, 6-0. Van Heuklon did not drop a game in her match against Castillo at number three singles. Bell also recorded a shutout win over Upole at four singles. Douglas secured another sweep against Amison at five singles while Religioso rounded out the lineup with a straight-set win over Courtneye Schneider.

Carroll University enters Friday’s match with an overall record of 4-3 and a conference mark of 3-2 after consecutive wins over Elmhurst on September 28 and North Park on September 23. Carroll has claimed victory in its last six meetings with Illinois Wesleyan; last season’s matchup ended in a 6-1 result for Carroll, with Bell providing IWU's only point at fourth singles.

Carthage College holds an overall record of 2-2 (2-2 CCIW). After falling to Wheaton earlier this month, Carthage responded by defeating Elmhurst without conceding any points on September 24. Carthage has prevailed in its previous twenty-two contests against Illinois Wesleyan; last year’s meeting resulted in a 6-1 outcome favoring Carthage. In that match, Bell won her fourth singles contest while Ehrlich and Bell combined for victory in first doubles.

Match results will be made available on iwusports.com after completion.