Gambier, Ohio- The Denison women's tennis team advances to the 2026 North Coast Athletic Conference Finals match after defeating the three-seeded John Carroll 4-1 in the tournament semifinals. The Big Red improves to 19-4 for the season, while the Blue Streaks wrap their season with an overall record of 11-6
# 21 Denison 4, John Carroll 1
Doubles:
Coming off a bye as the second-seeded team in the tournament, the Denison women's tennis team came out swinging, quickly securing a 1-0 lead in doubles play. Earning the first of the two necessary doubles wins was Maddie Larsen and Maia Nowicki on court three, the duo beat their Blue Streaks opponent 6-2. Just behind them on court one, Peyton Oda and Rafaella Ramos defeated John Carroll's Evelyn Deren and Maddie Kavenagh 6-2. Though Dasha Chistyakova and Caitlin Van Winkle's win on court two was cut short, the pair would have completed the sweep after going up 5-2 ahead of singles play.
1. Peyton Oda/ Rafaella Ramos (DENW) def. Evelyn Deren/ Maddie Kavenagh (JCUW) 6-2
2. Dasha Chistyakova/ Caitlin Van Winkle (DENW) def. Morgan Dobos/ Felicity Kolb (JCUW) 5-2 (unfinished)
3. Maddie Larsen/ Maia Nowicki (DENW) def. Madi Davila/ Emma Smith (JCUW) 6-2
Singles:
With a one-match advantage, Denison kept the momentum. Looking for her first official win of the day was junior Dasha Chistyakova, who notched the Big Red's first singles match win after defeating the Blue Streaks' Felicity Kolb 6-2, 6-1 on court four. Her doubles partner, Caitlin Van Winkle, would give Denison a three-match cushion after beating her opponent 6-0, 1-6, 6-2 on court two. John Carroll would manage to cut the Big Red's lead by just two after Morgan Dobos beat Rafaella Ramos 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 on court three. Despite losing one match, Denison continued to fight for its last match to secure a win and advance to the NCAC finals. Senior Peyton Oda did just that, after dropping her first set on court one and reverse sweeping her opponent for victory number four (2-6, 6-1, 7-5).
1. Peyton Oda (DENW) def. Evelyn Deren (JCUW) 2-6, 6-1, 7-5
2. Caitlin Van Winkle (DENW) def. Maddie Kavenagh (JCUW) 6-0, 1-6, 6-2
3. Morgan Dobos (JCUW) def. Rafaella Ramos (DENW) 6-2, 3-6, 6-0
4. Dasha Chistyakova (DENW) def. Felicity Kolb (JCUW) 6-2, 6-1
5. Maia Nowicki (DENW) vs. Emma Smith (JCUW) 6-2, 0-1 (unfinished)
6. Maddie Larsen (DENW) vs. Madi Davila (JCUW) (unfinished)
Match Notes:
No. 21 Denison: 19-4
John Carroll: 11-6
Doubles Order: 1,3,2
Singles Order: 4,2,3,1,5,6
Up Next for the Big Red
Denison takes on the top-seeded Kenyon College on Sunday, May 3, at 12 p.m. in Gambier, Ohio, for the chance to win the NCAC Women's Tennis Tournament Title and a chance to compete in the NCAA Championships.
