GRINNELL, Iowa – The Illinois College women's tennis squad has been picked to finish fifth in the annual Coaches Preseason Poll that was released by the league today.
The Lady Blues collected 26 points in the poll.
IC, who will be under the direction of first-year head coach
Patrick Embley this season, welcome back seven letter winners from last year's squad that went 16-9 overall, 3-3 in conference play and reached the Midwest Conference Tournament for the third consecutive season.
The Lady Blues' returnees are led by seniors
Madison Eastin and
Morgan Keefe, juniors
Sophi Barrow,
Sophie Muir, and
Alyssa Wise. Sophomores
Clara Bach and
Madison Marshall round out the IC returnees.
Grinnell was selected as the unanimous favorite in the poll.
In the spring, the league's top four teams will headline the 2027 MWC Women's Tennis Team Tournament on Saturday, May 1. The winner of the single-elimination event will receive the MWC Tournament title and the automatic bid to the 2027 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament.
IC opens play on September 2nd at Millikin.
2026-27 MWC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
1. Grinnell (7) – 49 points
2. Lake Forest (1) – 41 points
3. Luther - 35 points
4. Cornell – 34 points
5. Illinois College – 26 points
6. Lawrence – 18 points
7. Monmouth – 13 points
8. Ripon – 8 points
() – indicates first-place votes
