Wheaton, Ill. -- After starting its CCIW schedule in victorious fashion at Elmhurst University last weekend, the Thunder women's tennis team returned to campus this afternoon for its first conference home match of 2025-26. Wheaton played host to Carroll University in the first of two fixtures that the team will contest against Wisconsin sides this weekend, and the Thunder emerged from Friday's matchup with a 5-2 win. Today's result elevates Wheaton's season record to 4-0 and gives the squad a 2-0 mark in league play, while Carroll slips to a 1-2 figure in CCIW competition.
The visiting Pioneers nearly claimed one of the doubles contests this afternoon by forcing a tiebreak in the #3 matchup, but it would not have counted for anything on the scoreboard anyway as the Thunder rolled through the #1 and #2 fixtures.
Madeline Gentry and
Tatum Thurstone earned a flawless result in the first position, while
Janet Kondo and
Ella Malone captured a smooth 6-1 victory in the second doubles duel.
Sophie Dew and
Carly O'Leary had to work hard to take their #3 doubles contest but eventually ground out a 7-6 [7-4] tiebreak result to help Wheaton sweep the opening stage and claim the day's first point.
Gentry enjoyed a nearly-perfect evening on the court on Friday, as she dispatched her #1 singles rival with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-0 performance. The Pioneers eventually earned two points from today's match, but the team victory had already been secured for the Thunder thanks to straight-set results at #4, #5, and #6 singles. Kondo earned her second win of the day via a 6-0, 6-2 showing at the former, while the rookie Dew continued her impressive form with a double-bagel result at #5 singles. The South Carolina native has won all eight of her singles and doubles matches thus far in her young collegiate career and has yet to drop a single game in conference play. Fellow freshman
Mia Luo has also won all three of her singles matches in straight sets so far and registered a convincing 6-2, 6-1 result at the #6 spot this evening.
Just 17 hours after securing a match win over a Wisconsin-based CCIW opponent on home court, the Wheaton women's team will look to do the same again on Saturday afternoon as the Carthage Firebirds come calling for a 12:30 PM contest.
