MIDDLEBURY, VT. - For the first time in program history, the top-seeded Wesleyan women's tennis team swept the NESCAC Championship title match, defeating #2 Bowdoin College in a stunning 4-0 finish to claim the 2026 NESCAC Championship crown for the sixth time in seven years.
Under the direction of coaches Stephanie Yanosov and
Roland Thornqvist, the Cardinals returned to the title match for the seventh consecutive season while sourced by a primarily freshmen lineup. While searching to redeem the loss of the 2025 title, the Cardinals closed conference play with an 18-2 overall record and ran undefeated in the NESCAC.
While #8 Colby and #4 Amherst did not make the tournament easy, it was
Mariia Kornilova '29 tasked with the match point in all three rounds and she delivered. With the Cardinals resting on a 3-0 lead over the Polar Bears, Kornilova's match at No. 4 was nearing completion while leading Zoe Sun by four games. Sun's attempts to flip the set were unsuccessful as Kornilova struck the final point and won 6-2, 6-2.
Senior
Sarah Youngberg was the first of the singles matches to reach decision while dropping just two games to Caroline Stuhlfaut at No. 5. Sunday's 6-1, 6-1 finish advanced the Cardinals to a 2-0 lead as individual action was underway. Youngberg's leadership within the lineup, along with
Leila Epstein '26, has been pivotal to the success of this team through several close matchups in the second half of the season.
At No. 2,
Agnes Guggenheim '29 fought Suzanne Pogorelec in an unyielding opening set as the pair went nearly game for game, forcing Guggenheim to extra time to serve a 7-5 finish in set one before sweeping Pogorelec for the 7-5, 6-0 tally with Kornilova minutes from ending the match.
The Cardinals began the morning with a leg up on the Polar Bears, clinching doubles as action fell to singles. Youngberg and
Lara Afolayanka '29 defeated Cara Hung and Pogorelec 6-4 as the No. 2 pair before No. 3 Kornilova and
Kendall Smith '29 returned to form and ran a 6-4 campaign over Naomi Williams and Stuhlfaut.
The Cardinals, ranked fourth in the nation, await the start of the NCAA Tournament as the 2026 bracket will be announced, Monday, May 4.
