The Western Illinois University women’s tennis team will host the Lindenwood Lions at the WIU Tennis Facility in Macomb on March 22, according to a March 21 announcement. The match is set to begin at 10:30 a.m.
This event marks an important home fixture for the Leathernecks as they continue their season under coach Luke Ogren. The team currently holds a record of 5-10 after finishing last year with a 12-9 overall mark. Western Illinois competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, according to the official website.
The Leathernecks are coming off a strong performance, having swept Tennessee State 4-0 on the road. In that match, Mana Fawcett and Jessica Hess secured a doubles win, while Chloe Routier and Nadezhda Petkova also contributed in doubles play. Routier won her singles match in straight sets, Nour Gueblaoui posted a decisive victory at No. 3 singles, and Richardlyne Francois clinched the final point for Western Illinois.
In January, the Ohio Valley Conference released its preseason predicted order of finish for women’s tennis, placing Western Illinois fourth following votes from league head coaches. The team returns key players including All-OVC Singles selections Richardlyne Francois and Chloe Routier. Senior Nour Gueblaoui was named one of the conference’s Players to Watch for 2026. Fawcett has earned Singles Player of the Week honors twice this season and has been recognized four times as Doubles Player of the Week alongside Hess.
Western Illinois University Leathernecks Women’s Tennis operates from Macomb, Illinois and draws student-athletes from diverse global backgrounds, according to the official website. In addition to recent achievements, in 2017 a player from Western Illinois earned The Summit League Women’s Tennis Player of the Week honor according to the official website.
Looking ahead, Western Illinois aims to build on its momentum as it prepares for both conference play and potential postseason opportunities.
