OSHKOSH, Wis. – The Illinois College women's tennis squad was picked to finish fourth in the annual Midwest Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced Thursday.
Grinnell was picked to win the (MWC) women's tennis championship for the sixth straight season.
The Lady Blues are coming off a 14-10 season that also included a 3-3 slate in conference action. IC qualified for the Midwest Conference team tournament for the first time in school history. Head Coach Scott Weakley returns five players from last season's squad, headlined by seniors Lilly and
Sabrina Ingram.
Voted on by the league's seven head coaches, Grinnell received 36 points and earned six first-place votes to top all teams. The Pioneers finished last season 19-10 overall and a perfect 6-0 against MWC opponents, winning the program's 19th conference championship and making its 14th NCAA Tournament appearance.
Lake Forest finished second in the poll with 31 points and picked up the remaining first-place vote. Cornell was selected third overall with 26 points, ahead of Illinois College (19), Lawrence (14), Ripon (11), and Monmouth (10).
The 2025-26 campaign opens on Saturday, August 30, with six teams in non-conference action. MWC play begins on Saturday, September 13.
The regular season will culminate with the 2025 MWC Women's Tennis Individual Tournament, scheduled for October 18-19 at the Nielsen Tennis Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
In the spring, the league's top four teams will headline the 2026 MWC Women's Tennis Team Tournament on Saturday, May 2. The winner of the single-elimination event will receive the MWC tournament title and the automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament.
2025-26 MWC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
1. Grinnell (6) – 36 points
2. Lake Forest (1) – 31 points
3. Cornell – 26 points
4. Illinois – 19 points
5. Lawrence – 14 points
6. Ripon – 11 points
7. Monmouth – 10 points
() – indicates first-place votes
