NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- North Park Women's Tennis accomplished plenty in their 2024 fall season, which ended at the Naperville Tennis Club on Tuesday afternoon. The Vikings lost to reigning College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) champion North Central College, 5-2, but captured a share of their program's first-ever title with Wheaton and North Central thanks to a 7-1 league record.
Doubles play began with two decisive matches, as NCC's #1 doubles team of Abigail Penados and Kensington Payne secured wins over NPU's Katja Carlberg and Alexandra Ristfeldt, 6-1. However, #2 doubles of Hanna Zethraeus and Emilia Sand kept their conference record perfect with six wins and no losses, sweeping the Cardinals 6-0. The #3 doubles match was as close as a match could be, as Maddie Starr and Alexandra Pugachova dropped a narrow 7-6 tiebreaking loss.
In singles play, Ristfeldt in the second slot fought hard to earn a tiebreaking win over her opponent. After winning 7-6 in the first set, Kensington bounced back with a 6-3 win. However, Ristfeldt turned in her eighth win of the season, all in the #2 position, with a 10-1 third-set win. She finished the fall season with an 8-0 record overall and 7-0 in league play.
Speaking of perfect singles play, Maddie Starr reached double-digit wins with her 10th victory of this season, earning a 6-4, 6-1 win over the Cardinals' #6 player Kayla McSweeney. This fall, Starr earned six wins in the #6 slot, a win at #5, and three wins at #4.
Playing in her final collegiate match, #1 singles player lost in three sets (6-1, 4-6, 3-6). Against the league's best players for each match she played in the #1 position, her fall season ended with a 5-5 record.
Emilia Sand also lost in three (2-6, 6-1, 0-6), concluding her first season with the Vikings by securing a 5-3 record (5-2 CCIW). Sand was in the #4 slot for seven matches, picking up a win in a #2 singles match at Millikin.
What's Next?
This fall season, ending with a three-way split for the league title, leaves excitement in the air for the spring season. North Park will rest up and enjoy its program's first-ever championship before returning to practice in 2025.
