CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference released the women's tennis preseason coaches' poll on Monday afternoon with the University of Dubuque women's tennis program picked to finish among the top three in the conference this Fall.
The Spartans were picked in a tie for third in the preseason coaches' poll as they return a majority of their starting lineup in 2026-27. After making the A-R-C Team Tournament in 2025-26 for the first time since 2017, the Spartans are poised for a strong season under
Chad Fenwick who enters his fourth season as the head coach. Fenwick became the all-time winningest coach in women's tennis program history last year and currently has 30 total wins in three full seasons. "We bring back our full roster from last year and are looking forward to having another competitive year in the A-R-C" stated Fenwick.
Returning for the Spartans will be senior
Adriana Benavente, along with juniors
Molly Jex and
Sarah Wilde, who will lead the charge at the top of the lineup this season. All three were all-conference performers last season for the Spartans. The Spartans also have back juniors
Jayda Floyd,
Maddie Brosnahan,
Ella Englehaupt, and
Kendyll Schoonover. The Spartans bring in three new additions to the team in
Boden Budrecki,
Kiera Smith, and
Salalee Seejong.
The Spartans open the season on Saturday, August 29 when they face Lawrence University at 9:00 a.m. and then Edgewood University at 3:00 p.m. There will be three home conference matches this Fall as Loras (Sept. 15), Simpson (Oct. 2), and Central (Oct. 3) all travel to play on Frank Farber Tennis Courts. The annual ITA Regionals will be held Sept. 25-26 at Gustavus Adolphus and then the A-R-C Individual Tournament will take place Oct. 9-10 from Wartburg College.
Check out all the latest news, information, and updates from women's tennis via the University of Dubuque Athletics website at
https://udspartans.com/sports/womens-tennis.
A-R-C Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. Coe College - 49 (7)
2. Wartburg College - 43
T-3. Central College - 32
T-3. University of Dubuque - 32
5. Loras College - 29
6. Nebraska Wesleyan University - 17
7. Buena Vista University - 12
8. Simpson College - 10
( ) - first place votes
