PROVO, Utah (October 17, 2026) - The Northern Arizona women's tennis team had five Lumberjacks compete at the ITA Regional Championships this week. The tournament spanned five days, hosted by Brigham Young in Provo, Utah.
NAU senior Natalie Rainke, redshirt freshman Madelynn Ludwig, and senior Andrea Noguera competed in singles. In doubles, two pairs competed for the 'Jacks, which included Rainke and Ludwig, as well as Noguera with true freshman Sofiia Kucherova.
Rainke had her first match in the main draw, facing off against BYU's Sephi Sheng where she won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. In the round of 32, Rainke won in three sets against Nike Lenz from Utah, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5). Rainke then saw another straight set win against Wyoming's Anastasiia Kochelaevskaia, 7-5, 7-5, landing her in the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, Rainke fell to Allison Isaacs from Boise State, 7-6(2), 6-2.
Noguera won her first match in the qualifying draw against Weber State's Alicia Celorio Morales, 6-1, 6-2. Continuing on, Noguera beat Avery Olsen from Utah, 3-6, 6-4, (10)-(5), which moved her into the main draw. Noguera defeated Sue Yan Tan from BYU, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. In the round of 32 Noguera fell to Vianca Corley from New Mexico, 6-2, 6-3.
Ludwig beat Natalie Paterova from Utah State who conceded due to injury after one set, 6-2. Ludwig then defeated Lola House from Montana State, 1-6, 7-6(7), (10)-(7), moving her into the main draw. Ludwig fell to Heidi Crncan from Colorado, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
In doubles, Rainke and Ludwig defeated Utah Tech's Nutsa Tsintsadze and Sophie Dowdell, 8-2. In the round of 16, Rainke and Ludwig fell to Utah's Elena Daskalova and Lenz, 8-4.
Nogura and Kucherova fell to Utah's Sara Akid and Lily Stohl, 8-6.
Looking ahead, the Lumberjacks will return to the Thunderbird Invite in a couple weeks (Oct. 30-Nov. 1) in Tempe, Ariz.
To stay up to date with NAU Women's Tennis follow the Lumberjacks on X and Instagram.
