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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Maddie Kavenagh, Felicity Kolb, Morgan Dobos
Gavin Hunter

Women's Tennis Preview: Blue Streaks Return Solid Squad

| By: JCUSID

JCU has some returning veterans for the move to the challenging NCAC this year

After reaching the championship match of the 2025 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament, the John Carroll Women's Tennis team is looking to make a splash in the North Coast Athletic Conference. 

In 2025, the Blue Streaks finished with an 11-5 overall record and an OAC record of 4-1, improving on the 2024 season which featured a 10-9 record. 

Led by Head Coach Torrey McNeal, the Women's Tennis team is looking to ruffle some feathers in the NCAC. JCU was tabbed fourth in the preseason coaches poll. 

This year's team is run by strong veteran players that have experience with success. Among these players are juniors Maddie Kavenagh and Evelyn Deren. Kavenagh and Deren earned First Team All-OAC Honors for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. 

"[Kavenagh and Deren] play at the top of the lineup so they lead by example," said McNeal. "Both very feisty competitors, and there's never a day where they're not working their hardest." 

The Blue Streaks started off strong this fall with a 7-0 victory against Grove City College. Kavenagh and Deren dominated at #1 doubles, with seniors Felicity Kolb, the team's captain, and and Morgan Dobos showing up strong at #2 doubles. 

The Blue Streaks will have strong leadership from the veteran players and the support from the ever-improving underclassmen. With the third line opening up, the hunt for players to step up and fill that space is on. 

Two of the returning sophomores bring All-OAC Honorable Mentions into this season, Madi Davila and Emma Smith. Smith has been a consistent player, steady and continuing to excel. Zoe Nicholas rounds out the second-years and "will be getting a lot of playing opportunities and is performing well" according to Coach McNeal.

With such strong returners, the team is also looking to add some depth from the first year on the roster, Lilianna Dixon. Coach McNeal is looking to give her lots of playing time as she works hard to improve. 

Both Coach McNeal and Assistant Coach Earl Beebe are entering their third seasons with the Blue Streaks, the first as head coach for McNeal. Having succeeded in taking the team all the way to the OAC Tournament last season, they hope to bring their winning style to the NCAC. Sofia Fortuno Ferreira is making an impact this year as a graduate assistant, as well. 

"The focus so far through the winter has been perfecting what we know how to do, minimizing mistakes, and playing smarter tactically," McNeal said. "We want opponents to play outside their comfort zone and put pressure on them to make mistakes."

The Blue Streaks will kick off their season and NCAC play at Kenyon College on February 8, then the Streaks will host their first match against Denison University on February 15. After that, JCU Women's Tennis will travel down to Orlando, FL on March 2 for their spring break matches. 
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