ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2026 Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches Polls on Wednesday with UW-Superior predicted to win the North Division and Greenville University predicted to win the South Division. The polls were voted on by all the head coaches in each respective division. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.

2026 UMAC Women's Tennis North Division Preseason Coaches Poll
 

Place	School	Points
1	UW-Superior (5)	25
2	Northwestern (1)	21
3	Minnesota Morris	15
4	Martin Luther	12
5	Bethany Lutheran	10
6	Crown	7

Place	School	Points
1	Greenville (4)	16
2	Webster	12
3	Principia (1)	11
4	Westminster	6
5	The W	5

The top two teams in each division at the close of the regular season will compete in the UMAC Tournament with the semifinals scheduled for Friday, May 1 and the championship slated for Saturday, May 2. The tournament champion will receive the UMAC’s automatic qualifying bid to the 2026 NCAA DIII Women’s Tennis Championship to compete in the national tournament.

NORTH DIVISION
#1 UW-Superior: 25 points
The Yellowjackets led the preseason poll with 25 points and five first-place votes from their conference competitors. 

Head Coach: CeeJay Schaffner | 7th Season |

Top Returners

• Andreina Tejada, Sr. | Two-time Second-team All-Conference| 2025: 7-5 Singles, 3-7 Doubles |
• Anouk Bluemm, So. | Honorable Mention All-Conference | 2025: 8-9 Singles, 5-13 Doubles |
• Elif Oezen, So. | First-team All-Conference| 2025: 16-10 Singles, 9-7 Doubles |

#2 Northwestern: 21 points
The Eagles received 21 points and the final first-place vote.

Head Coach: Matt Swigart | 14th Season |

Top Returner

• Aby Ross, Jr. | Two-time Second-team All-Conference  | 2025 CSC Academic All-District, 2025 ITA Scholar-Athlete | 2025: 11-11 Singles, 12-9 Doubles | 2025: 3-1 UMAC Singles, 3-1 UMAC Doubles |

#3 Minnesota Morris: 15 points
The Cougars ranked third with 15 points.

Head Coach: Dimitri Sofias | 1st season |

Top Returners

• Allie Bruhn, Sr | Academic All-UMAC | 2025: Singles 4-9, Doubles 2-3 |
• Mariah Mireles, Jr | 2025: Singles 4-9, 2-1 Record |
• Kristen Muller, Jr | 2025: Singles 4-6, Doubles 2-4 |

#4 Martin Luther: 12 points
The Knights were selected fourth with 12 points.

Head Coach: Jen Krause | 2nd season |

Top Returners

• Britney Prahl, Sr |2024 First-team All-Conference |2025 Second-team All-Conference 
• Emily Gronholz, Jr
• Katie Schoeneck, Jr

#5 Bethany Lutheran: 10 points
The Vikings ranked fifth with 10 points.

Head Coach: Michael Janes | 2nd Season |

Top Returners

• Sailor Mohlenbrock, Sr. | 2025 All Conference |2025 All Sportsmanship | 2025: Singles - 5-12, Doubles - 4-14 |
• Emily Yehle, Sr. | 2025: Singles - 7-10, Doubles - 5-13 |

#6 Crown: 7 points
The Polars rounded out the north poll with seven points.

Head Coach: Keagan Blancke | 2nd season |

Top Returners

• Amy Eckstrom, Jr
• Xeng Her, Jr
• Elyse Steffen, Sr | UMAC Player of the Week

SOUTH DIVISION

#1 Greenville: 16 points
The Panthers led the preseason poll with 16 points and four first-place votes from their conference competitors. 

Head coach: Brett Brannon | 8th season |

Top Returners

• Irlanda Oliver, Junior |First-team All-Conference | 2025: 11-7 Singles Record, 8-11 Doubles Record |
• Lanie Carder, Junior |Second-team All-Conference| 2025: 13-7 Singles Record, 14-5 Doubles Record |
• Emily Kowalke, Sophomore | First-team All-Conference | 2025: 10-5 Singles Record, 7-11 Doubles Record |

#2 Webster: 12 points
The Gorloks were picked second with 12 points.

Head Coach: John Black | 6th season |

Top Returners

• Riham Benjelloun, Junior| 2025 records: 0-2 singles, 0-3 doubles|

#3 Principia: 11 points
The Panthers were selected third and garnered the final first-place vote.

Head Coach: Shannon Carney | 16th Season

Top Returners

• Mafe Quintero, Jr. |2025 Injured | 2024 UMAC South Rookie of the Year |2024 Singles 12-3 Doubles 10-6
• Saray Hernandez Cisneros, Sr | 2025 First-team All-Conference | 2025: Singles: 7-4 Doubles. 6-4
• Kimbeley Peterson, Sr |2025 First-team All-Conference |2025: Singles 6-5 Doubles 5-5

#4 Westminster: 6 points
The Blue Jays were tabbed fourth with six points.

Head Coach: Dr. Jessica Brown (Athletic Director)| 1st season |

Top Returners

• Hayley Lale, So| 2025: Singles Record 0-2, Doubles Record 0-2 |
• Jada Barlow, So| 2025: Singles Record 0-2, Doubles Record 0-2|
• Emily Heigham, So| 2025: Singles Record 0-2, Doubles Record 0-1|

#5 The W: 5 points
The Owls rounded out the poll with five points.

Head Coach: Hayden Embry | 1st season |

Top Returners

• Jaysa Whatley |UMAC Academic All-Conference| 2025: Singles Record 3-2, Doubles Record 3-3|
• Alaina Mathis |UMAC Academic All-Conference |2025: Singles Record 4-4, Doubles Record 3-5 |
• Brooklyn Ward |UMAC Academic All-Conference| 2025: Singles Record 1-3, Doubles Record 1-2