CHICAGO, Ill. – No. 18 Gustavus women's tennis was one of 15 teams granted a first-round bye when the NCAA announced the 49-team field for the Division III Women's Tennis Championships on Monday morning (May 5).

Gustavus, making its 27th NCAA appearance, travels to Chicago, home of the reigning national champions, in a six-team regional bracket. The Gusties, along with the host Maroons, await their opponent in the second round of the tournament. The first-round match-ups feature, on the top half of the bracket, North Central (Ill.) and Coe (Iowa), with one team set to meet UChicago Friday. The Gusties will face the winner of the bottom half between Hope (Mich.) and UW-Superior at the Stagg Tennis Courts at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 9.

TICKET AND PARKING INFORMATION

Admission will not be charged for any matches in Chicago over the weekend. Parking is available in any University lot, including the large Ellis Avenue parking garage on the corner of 55th Street and Ellis Avenue, directly across the street from the Ratner Athletic Center. There is an hourly fee for parking in this garage. Street parking is also available around the facility. The Stagg Tennis Courts are located on the corner of 56th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. More information can be found on Chicago's regional homepage here.

GUSTIES IN THE NCAA POSTSEASON

Friday's match will mark the 27th national tournament appearance for the Gustavus women's tennis team and the first for the program since the 2017-18 season. Only seven teams in all of Division III tennis have appeared in more national tournaments than the Gusties: Amherst (Mass.), Williams (Mass.), The College of New Jersey, Sewanee (Tenn.), Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.), Mary Washington (Va.), and Emory (Ga.). Emory makes its 40th appearance, and 40th consecutive, this weekend to lead all of Division III, having made every team-bracket tournament since the eight-team field was established in the 1984-85 season. 

Gustavus is one of 18 programs in the country to have won a national title. The 1990 championship team featured now-assistant coach Heidi Rostberg Carlson '93 HOF '10 in her freshman season, who, alongside partner Molly McCormick '93, clinched the title with the deciding doubles point over UC-San Diego. The 1989-90 season set the tone for head coach Jon Carlson '88, who claimed the highest team accomplishment in his first year leading the tennis program. 

The Gusties are 40-27 in NCAA competition, advancing past the first round 55 times. The team owns a 13-2 record in second round matches, with its two losses coming in its last three appearances (2016 and 2018). Gustavus is 2-0 in second round matches in Chicago, and has earned a spot in the third round of the bracket, the regional championship, six times (4-2 record). The regional format was established in 2000, and the bracket was expanded to include third-round matches 2007.

SCOUTING THE GUSTIES

Gustavus enters the national postseason with a 26-7 record and finished 10-0 in MIAC regular season play. The team has won 14 matches without allowing appoint from opposition – six 9-0 wins in league play, seven 7-0 decisions in non-conference competition, and a win to decision (4-0) over St. Olaf in the MIAC playoff semifinals last week. 

The Gusties finished the conference season without dropping a singles match, and have only been swept in doubles play four times in 33 matches. Of 96 completed doubles matches this season, the Gusties have lost just 23 – seven at No. 1 and eight each at Nos. 2 and 3. Of those 23 losses, 12 have come against teams ranked in the national top-25, while nine were to non-Division III opponents.

A trio of athletes lead the team with 19 singles wins each, as Molly Austin (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn.) and Kaya De Bruijn (Jr., Maasland, Netherlands) are each 19-8 overall and 17-7 in dual play this season. The Gusties' No. 1 Karina Elvestrom (Fy., Minnetonka, Minn.) is 19-12 overall and 13-9 in dual matches. First-years Lanie Davis (St. Louis, Mo.) and Noor Omar (Fridley, Minn.) each have 17 wins to their names, with Davis playing regularly at No. 4 and Omar at No. 5. Lone Gustie senior Brooke Haddorff (Burnsville, Minn.) has seen the most time at No. 6, going 8-2 from the final singles position.

De Bruijn and Elvestrom have played the most matches together of any doubles pair on the team, posting a 23-7 overall record and 17-5 record in dual matches, all in the No. 1 slot. Haddorff and Pavla Yakimova (Jr., Glasgow, Scotland) are 16-4 this season (9-2 at No. 3), while Austin has gone 22-9 in doubles with four different partners. She and Davis, the latest No. 2 pairing for the Gusties, are 11-1 and on a 10-match win streak, while the junior has played to a 10-6 record with classmate Allison Szalay (Des Moines, Iowa).

NATIONAL NOTABLES

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) has released a total of nine national polls this season, each one of which has featured the Gusties in the top 40 of teams in the nation (poll includes teams 1-75). The Gusties started the season at No. 24 and currently boast their highest ranking of the season at No. 18 in yesterday's May 7 poll. In the ITA's Central Region, the Gusties currently sit fifth, and have been ranked as high as No. 4 in the region this season. Three of the four teams ahead of Gustavus in the region are also competing in the national tournament: No. 1 UChicago, No. 2 WashU, and No. 4 Kenyon (Ohio). 

Individually, two doubles teams saw time in the national rankings this season, with Austin and Szalay starting at No. 13 following the ITA Midwest Regional Championships, while Elvestrom and De Bruijn were ranked as high as No. 12. The rookie Elvestrom also spent time in the national singles rankings, earning a spot at No. 14 after picking up ITA All-America honors in the fall. She is currently the 20th-ranked player in the region.

MIAC ACCOLADES

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its annual women's tennis awards on Tuesday, May 6, and eight athletes collected a total of 19 accolades. Elvestrom and De Bruijn headlined the day alongside head coach Carlson, who was honored by his peers as the MIAC Coach of the Year for the 11th time. Elvestrom was named both the Rookie of the Year and one half of the Doubles Team of the Year with De Bruijn.

In addition to their major awards, both athletes were selected as All-MIAC in both singles and doubles. They were joined on both teams by Austin, while Szalay collected doubles distinction for the third season in a row. Davis and Haddorff each earned honorable mention honors in both singles and doubles, while Omar was HM-singles and Yakimova in the doubles. Austin, Davis, and De Bruijn were also each named to the MIAC All-Playoff team for their performance during the conference tournament last week. 

STACKING UP AGAINST THE COMPETITION

Gustavus has played six different teams that advanced to the national tournament during the regular season, going 2-4 against NCAA tournament opponents. The Gusties dropped three matches in Texas to national contenders, falling 7-0 to then-No. 10 Trinity (Texas), then-No.12 MIT, and then-No. 9 WashU (Mo.) The team bounced back from the busy week with a sweep of UW-Superior, 7-0, on March 22, followed by a 5-2 win over Hope on April 4, Jon Carlson's 700th career win. The second round of the Midwest Invite presented then-No. 21 Whitman (Wash.), which edged Gustavus by a narrow 3-4 decision.

DANCIN' LIKE IT'S 2018

The Gusties are back in the national tourney for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The 2017-18 Gusties went 18-8 overall and 10-0 in the conference, ending the regular season on a seven-match win streak, which was extended to 10 through the first round of the NCAA championships. 

The Gusties defeated Bethel 5-0 in the conference semifinals and Carleton 5-2 in the title match to earn the MIAC's automatic bid to the tournament. Gustavus met now-conference competitor St. Scholastica in the first round of NCAA competition, defeating the Saints 6-0 behind a doubles sweep and singles wins at Nos. 1, 4, and 6. Regional host UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 34 at the time, upset the No. 28-ranked Gusties 5-2 in the regional semifinal. 

DYNAMIC DUO

Elvestrom and De Bruijn have been selected to compete at the NCAA Individual Championships May 24-27 at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, Calif., hosted by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The NCAA announced its selections Wednesday evening (May 7). Elvestrom was selected to compete in both the singles and doubles championships, joined by partner De Bruijn in doubles. The national individual appearance will be the first for both athletes.

The selection of teams and individuals for the championships is based on won-lost record, strength of schedule and eligibility and availability of student-athletes. A total of 32 individuals, including Elvestrom, were chosen for singles competition, while 16 doubles pairs earned a spot in the bracket. The draw for the individual championship will be done by the women's tennis committee and will be released on May 23.

THE FIELD

The Chicago regional features the host Maroons, the Flying Dutch of Hope College, the UW-Superior Yellowjackets, Cardinals of North Central, and the Coe College Kohawks. UChicago (20-1, 3-0 UAA) advanced to the national tournament for the 16th time after defeating No. 2 Emory in the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship. Hope (18-6, 8-0 MIAA) reached the dance by way of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) automatic bid, defeating Kalamazoo (Mich.) 4-1 in its conference title game. Superior (21-5, 5-0 UMAC), meanwhile, is making its first appearance on the national stage after collecting the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) bid with a 4-1 win over Greenville (Ind.). North Central (14-9, 7-1 CCIW) is back for its fifth and fifth consecutive appearance in the championships after defeating Wheaton (Ill.) in the CCIW tournament final, while Coe (18-7, 7-1 A-R-C) upset Luther (Iowa) for the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) qualifier.

SCOUTING THE FLYING DUTCH

Hope enters the national tournament for the 19th time with an NCAA postseason record of 8-18. The Flying Dutch have been selected for postseason play in the last 13 seasons (excluding the canceled 2020 season) as the perennial qualifier from the MIAA. Hope went a perfect 8-0 in the conference season with five of its six losses coming to nationally-ranked opponents, including the Gusties on April 4. Hope has also met North Central prior to the postseason, defeating the Cardinals twice in the regular season, one a 5-2 win at NCC, the other a 4-1 victory during the Midwest Invite. 

The Flying Dutch are ranked eighth in the ITA's Central Region, and 34th in the country. The team has earned 11 wins in the region, and is a perfect 7-0 on the road, but 4-4 at neutral sites. Annika Weeber owns the best singles record, sitting at 21-7 overall and 18-5 in dual matches. She's compiled a 17-4 mark as the team's No. 3 singles player. Sullivan Moran has spent the most time at No. 2, going 18-8, while the No. 1 spot belongs to junior Amanda Lopykinski, who is 19-7 overall and 15-5 in dual play. 

Lopykinski and Moran are the top doubles team for the Flying Dutch, securing a record of 23-6 and 19-4 outside of tournament matches. The pair went a perfect 7-0 in the MIAA and has won nine of their last 10 matches. Weeber and Miyako Coffey are 18-5 in dual matches, 17 of those wins coming at No. 2, while Phoebe Walker and Madison Wei have spent the most time at No. 3 doubles, going 17-1 from the third spot. 

SCOUTING THE YELLOWJACKETS

Superior's record season has been a team effort, with a trio of players spending time in the No. 1 singles spot. First-year Anouk Bluemm, who is 8-8 overall, is the latest pick for the top position, going 5-4 at No. 1, with all four of her wins in her last four matches. Elif Oezen is the team's go-to at No. 2, compiling a 16-9 overall record, with seven of her wins at the second line-up spot. Claudia Curtis is 10-2 at No. 3, while Giulia Arauja De Barros owns the best record of any Yellowjacket at 19-3, including a 12-2 mark at No. 4.

In doubles play, the duo of Curtis and Kate Jonas own the best record at 9-1, going 4-0 at No. 1 and 5-1 at No. 2. Bluemm and Arauja De Barros took the No. 1 spot in Superior's UMAC playoff run, but have gone 0-3 as a pair so far this season. Oezen and Brooke Wilfong are 6-0 between Nos. 2 and 3, the second-most wins in doubles on the team. 

The Yellowjackets faced four MIAC opponents in their non-conference schedule, defeating Macalester (5-2) and Concordia (7-0), but falling to St. Olaf (2-5) and the Gusties. Eight of their wins have been sweeps, six coming at 7-0 and one each at 5-0 and 4-0. UWS has lost just four matches at No. 4 singles and three at No. 6. 

SCOUTING THE MAROONS

UChicago is making its 16th national tournament appearance and fourth in a row since 2021-22. The Maroons won their first national championship last season, going 23-1 overall, 3-0 in the UAA, and defeating No. 4 Wesleyan (Conn.) 5-3 in the title match. The tournament run for Chicago featured wins over three top 10 teams – No. 6 Johns Hopkins (Md.), No. 2 Pomona-Pitzer, and Wesleyan. This year's regional host advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating No. 13 Case Western (Ohio) in the third round, hosted by UW-Whitewater.

This season, the reigning champs have suffered just one loss – a 5-2 decision to Division I University of Toledo. Chicago has out-scored opponents 117-22 this season, collecting nine total sweeps of opponents. The Maroons have won all but three matches at No. 3 singles and doubles, and are yet to drop a singles match in the No. 6 position. 

A number of Maroons are ranked in the national singles polling, led by Clara Zou at No. 7, who is 25-2 this season and a perfect 6-0 against nationally-ranked opponents. Behind her is Erica Ekstrand at No. 8 with a 19-4 record. Sylwia Mikos (14-6) is ranked 14th, while Sarena Biria (17-6) is 37th.

In doubles competition, Sylwia and Oliwia Mikos are third in the nation, but played separately in Chicago's last match against No. 2 Emory. The sisters are 17-7 this season and 8-3 at the No. 1 spot. Shianna Guo and Lauren Khou boast a 9-4 record as partners, with seven wins at No. 2.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS

North Central enters national tournament play after over a week off, having last played on April 26 in the CCIW championship. The Cardinals, another team featured at the Gusties' Midwest Invite, are ranked 55th in the nation. They have posted seven sweeps in their 14 wins while conceding five. NCC has already faced two of the six teams in this weekend's regional, falling to Hope twice (March 1, 5-2; April 8, 4-1) and Chicago on Feb. 22, 7-0. 

Abigail Penados is the Cardinals' No. 1 singles player, boasting a 19-6 overall record and 10-0 mark in the CCIW. Kensington Payne has played 14 matches at No. 2, going 9-5, but has competed at No. 3 in her last four of five matches. Natalie Bassett has stepped into the No. 2 spot with a 3-4 record so far this season. 

Payne and Penados own the best doubles record at 11-4, 10-3 in dual play, all at the No. 1 position. They haven't played a match together since April 4, as Bassett has joined Penados for a 7-2 record in the first position, while Payne and Kate Herlihy have taken over at No. 2. The Cardinals have used 18 additional pairings this season, and have gone 38-33 in doubles play this season. 

SCOUTING THE KOHAWKS

Coe is making its 10th NCAA appearance and, like the Gusties, first since 2018. The Kohawks upset the No. 1 seed in the A-R-C tournament Luther 4-1 on the road on Saturday, April 26. Coe lost the doubles point at Nos. 1 and 3, but won singles matches Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 6 to clinch the victory. 

Of the Kohawks' 18 victories, six have been sweeps, five at 7-0 and one at 4-0. Coe has met just one team selected for national tournament contention this season, falling to Grinnell (Iowa) on March 30, 5-2. 

Sophomore Sophia Fain has spent the whole season at No. 1, going 17-5, all in dual matches. Addison Leasure has been the most consistent No. 2 (11-4), while also winning six matches at No. 3 for a 17-4 overall record. Maddie Schultz has been the most recent No. 3, with a 4-0 record at the position, while also winning a handful of matches at Nos. 1 and 2. In doubles play Alice Tysoe and Fain are 11-3, with nine of their wins at No. 2. Alli Hagness and Leasure are 7-6 at No. 1, while 13 different duos have played at the third spot this season.