CHICAGO, Ill. - The Chicago State Women's Tennis team has been voted to an 8th place finish in the NEC Coaches Poll for the upcoming Spring 2026 season. This preseason ranking offers a glimpse into the anticipated competitive landscape of the conference, providing media recognition and sparking preseason interest in the teams.
As the team prepares for the spring season, they will look to capitalize on the experience of key returners, including seniors
Danina Hughes,
Camila Sanchez, and
Mackenzie King. King and her junior teammate,
Karolina Skowronska are coming off an impressive fall 2025 season, where they won the Double tournament of the Binghamton Championships against the rest of the NEC competition to represent the conference at the ITA Masters Championships in San Diego. The squad is bolstered by the arrival of transfer student
Nikita Liyanage, who is expected to make a significant contribution to the team's performance. Other members includeÂ
The Cougars have already faced notable non-conference opponents such as Western Michigan, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Cincinnati, and Western Illinois. Looking ahead, their schedule includes matches against Illinois State, Drake, Saint Louis, Indiana, and Marquette this spring in non-conference match ups. These match ups will provide valuable preparation as the team gears up for conference play.
In the NEC, Chicago State will face conference opponents in late March including New Haven, LIU, Wagner, FDU, and Mercyhurst. The team's performance in these matches will be critical as they aim to improve their standing and make a mark in the conference.
2026 NEC Women's Tennis Poll
1. FDU (unanimous)
2. Saint Francis
3. Le Moyne
4. LIU
5. Wagner
6. Binghamton
7. Stonehill
8. Chicago State
9. Mercyhurst
With a blend of seasoned players and new talent, the Chicago State Women's Tennis team is poised to compete in the Spring 2026 season.
