NEENAH, Wis. - The Midwest Conference announced the 2026-27 Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll with the Luther women's tennis team was voted to finish third with 35 points. 

During the 2025-26 season, the team captured the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) regular season championship for the 34th time in its history. The Norse went on to win the A-R-C Tournament, securing a return to the NCAA Division III Tournament for a 19th time. In the NCAA tournament, Luther advanced past the first round for the first time since 2011, defeating the Illinois Institute of Technology 4-0 before falling to the University of Chicago in the second round.

Key returners for the Norse this season include Allie Christensen and Lena Lichau, both of whom earned all-conference honors in singles and doubles, as well as Julianna Mascardo, recognized for her performance in doubles. 

The Women's Tennis team will kick off the 2026 season at the Warhawk Invitational, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday, September 5, starting at 9 a.m. 

The following weekend, the Norse will face Illinois College on Saturday, September 12 at 9 a.m., and Monmouth College on Sunday, September 13 at 9:30 a.m., marking their first Midwest Conference matches of the season.

2026-27 Midwest Conference Preseason Poll - Points (first place votes)
1. Grinnell College - 49 points (7)
2. Lake Foest College - 41 points (1)
3. Luther College - 35 points
4. Cornell College - 34 points
5. Illinois College - 26 points
6. Lawrence University - 18 points
7. Monmouth College - 13 points
8. Ripon College - 8 points