The Western Illinois University women’s tennis team is set to return home for matches against Milwaukee and Northern Illinois. The contests will take place at the Quad City Tennis Club in Moline, Illinois on February 28, and at the Lakeside Recreation Facility in Galesburg, Illinois on March 1.
This season marks the third year under head coach Luke Ogren. The Leathernecks currently hold a 2-8 record after finishing last season with a 12-9 mark. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, according to the official website: https://goleathernecks.com/sports/womens-tennis. The program is based in Macomb, Illinois.
In their recent road matches, Western Illinois faced Omaha Mavericks and Creighton Bluejays, losing both by a score of 7-0. Richardlyne Francois and Nadezhda Petkova secured a doubles win against Omaha, while Chloe Routier and Jessica Hess pushed their singles matches to three sets but ultimately fell short. Against Creighton, Routier lost in a close third-set tiebreak.
The Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll released in January predicted Western Illinois would finish fourth in the league this year. Returning players include All-OVC Singles selections Richardlyne Francois and Chloe Routier from 2025. Senior Nour Gueblaoui was named one of the conference’s Players to Watch for 2026.
Mana Fawcett has been recognized twice as Singles Player of the Week this season and has also earned Doubles Players of the Week honors with Jessica Hess on two occasions.
For more information about Western Illinois University Leathernecks Women’s Tennis, including its participation in NCAA Division I athletics and its diverse roster of student-athletes from around the world, visit https://goleathernecks.com/sports/womens-tennis.
“Western Illinois concluded a two-match road swing against Omaha Mavericks and Creighton Bluejays, dropping a pair of 7-0 decisions despite several competitive showings. Against Omaha, Richardlyne Francois and Nadezhda Petkova earned a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles, while Chloe Routier pushed a three-set battle at No. 3 singles and Jessica Hess forced extended play at No. 5. Omaha secured the remaining singles matches to clinch the team victory. WIU continued to compete well against Creighton, but the Bluejays won 2 and 3 doubles, as well as sweeping singles action, with Routier falling in a tight third-set tiebreak at No. 3.”
“The Ohio Valley Conference released its 2026 women’s tennis preseason predicted order of finish in January, with Western Illinois University selected fourth following a vote of the league’s head coaches. The Leathernecks return a strong core led by 2025 All-OVC Singles selections Richardlyne Francois and Chloe Routier, while senior Nour Gueblaoui has been named one of the OVC’s 2026 Players to Watch. The fourth-place prediction reflects the program’s continued rise within the conference, bolstered by experienced returners and a roster poised to make an impact in both singles and doubles play as Western Illinois prepares to compete for a league title at the 2026 conference championships.”
“Mana Fawcett has made her mark this season by earning Singles Player of the Week twice, and making Doubles Players of the Week with Jessica Hess twice this season.”
For updates on matches or additional details about upcoming events or player achievements throughout the season, follow GoLeathernecks.com or check their social media channels.
