Wheaton, Ill. -- Returning from a two-week break from competition, the Wheaton women's tennis team kicked off its Fall 2023 CCIW schedule under the lights at the newly refurbished Wheaton tennis courts this evening. Looking to shake off the disappointment of their narrow defeat to Lake Forest last time out, the Thunder opened conference play in dominant fashion, sailing past the Carroll Pioneers by a score of 8-1. The squad's record now stands at 2-1 overall on the young season.

Carroll did well to earn a point in the doubles competitions, but Wheaton gave itself a platform for success thanks to wins in the #1 and #2 slots. Madeline Gentry and Lydia Adams made quick work of their bill-topping rivals at 8-1, while Janet Kondo and Audrey Vick secured an 8-4 edge in the second position to give the hosts a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

The solo matchups all went for Wheaton this evening, as players one through six outmatched their Pioneer competitors. Gentry followed up her doubles result with an equally-comprehensive 6-2, 6-2 win in the top position. Vick earned a first-set bagel before taking the second frame at 6-2 to give the Thunder their fourth point of the match. Adams then made sure of the victory with a similar 6-2, 6-0 scoreline in her #4 singles slot. Alexandra Wachs dispatched her Carroll counterpart in convincing 6-2, 6-1 fashion at #3 singles, while Delaney Canning used a second-set tiebreaker to earn her #6 singles victory. Janet Kondo completed the singles sweep for the home team despite dropping the first set of her #5 match thanks to a second-set bagel and a ten-point tiebreak win.

Friday could not have gone much better for the Wheaton women, but they do not have much time to celebrate their conference-opening victory. The Carthage Firebirds come to town for a 10:45 AM test on Saturday morning.