Western Illinois University has announced that Emma Dell, a graduate transfer from Indianapolis, will join the Leathernecks women’s tennis team for the 2026-27 season. Dell comes to Macomb after four years at Indiana University Indianapolis, where she made notable contributions both athletically and academically.
During her time with the Jaguars, Dell earned several honors. In her first two years, she was named to the College Sports Communicators All-District Team and received ITA Scholar Athlete recognition. She also appeared on multiple academic lists including the Academic Advisors List, Dean’s List, and Horizon League Honor Roll. As a sophomore, she was awarded Under Armour Horizon League Singles Player of the Week and received her team’s Iron Jag Award for leadership in training.
In her junior year, Dell served as team captain and played at No. 1 singles. She continued to receive All-District honors and ITA Scholar Athlete awards while participating in programs such as the ITA Rising Coaches Program and ITA Mentorship Program. Notable performances included consecutive No. 1 conference singles wins against Milwaukee and Chicago State. That year, she also received IU Indianapolis’ Top 100 Student Award and represented her conference.
Dell expanded her leadership role as a senior by serving as SAAC President at IU Indianapolis and representing the Horizon League on SAAC. She was selected for a position on the NCAA Division I Tennis Oversight Committee while maintaining strong academic performance.
Dell plans to pursue an MBA at Western Illinois University during her graduate season with the Leathernecks.
“Western Illinois University stood out to me because it supports both my athletic goals and my future career aspirations,” Dell said. “As someone who wants to coach college tennis, earning my MBA while continuing to compete allows me to grow as a leader and role model. WIU provides the structure, resources, and culture that helps me transition from student-athlete to coach.”
The Western Illinois University Leathernecks women’s tennis program competes in NCAA Division I athletics as part of the Ohio Valley Conference according to its official website. The team is based in Macomb, Illinois and draws student-athletes from diverse backgrounds. The program achieved victories during its 2025 season over teams such as IUPUI Jaguars and Coe College as noted on its website.
Dell is expected to bring experience in competition, academics, and leadership as Western Illinois prepares for its next season.
