CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The coaches have selected the 2026-27 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Women's Tennis postseason award selections. These outstanding student-athletes have distinguished themselves throughout the conference fall regular season and the individual tournament.
Coaches from the conference nominated and selected this year’s all-conference team, recognizing the top performers in both singles and doubles play. In addition to honoring the all-conference team, the release also recognizes the Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coaching Staff of the Year.
The A-R-C proudly announces today that Coe College's Sophia Fain has been selected as the Women's Tennis Player of the Year for the 2026 season. Nebraska Wesleyan University's Madison Marsh has been named Rookie of the Year and University of Dubuque head coach Chad Fenwick and his staff were voted American Rivers Coaching Staff of the Year. In addition to the major awards, the conference announced the all-conference and honorable mention team.
Fenwick, in his third season at the helm of the women's tennis team at UD, guided the Spartans to a strong regular season finishing tied for second-place in league standings, ultimately earning the third-seed in the spring tournament. UD finished conference play with a 5-2 mark and a 9-2 overall record. UD's Coaching Staff of the Year is the first ever in program history. Fenwick is assisted by Tommy Linkenheld and Breann Kieliszewski.
Fain, a senior from Waterloo, Iowa, is earning all-conference recognition in singles and doubles along with her third consecutive Player of the Year accolade. She finished conference dual play with a 7-0 record at No. 1 singles and a 6-0 record at No. 2/3 doubles. This is Fain's fourth all-conference honor of her career. Fain earned her third straight A-Singles title earlier this season at the 2026 A-R-C Women's Tennis Individual Tournament.
Marsh, a freshman from South Dakota, is earning all-conference recognition in singles along with her Rookie of the Year honor. She finished conference dual play with a 3-3 record at No. 1/2 singles and a 3-3 record at No. 1 doubles.
| 2026 All-American Rivers Conference Women's Tennis Team |
| Player of the Year - Sophia Fain, Coe College |
| Rookie of the Year - Madison Marsh, Nebraska Wesleyan University |
| Coaching Staff of the Year - University of Dubuque (Head Coach: Chad Fenwick) |
| Singles |
School |
Year |
Hometown/High School |
| Lauren Gano |
Central College |
Sr. |
Johnston, Iowa/Johnston |
| Sophia Fain |
Coe College |
Sr. |
Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus |
| Aisha Gurung |
Coe College |
So. |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Alli Hagness |
Coe College |
Sr. |
Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus |
| Addison Leasure |
Coe College |
Jr. |
Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty |
| Alice Tysoe |
Coe College |
Jr. |
Sydney, Australia |
| Molly Jex |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
Germantown, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels |
| Salalee Seejong |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
Koh Samui, Thailand/Theeparatpittaya |
| Mary Breitbach |
Loras College |
Sr. |
Peoria, Ill./Peoria Notre Dame |
| Madison Marsh |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Fr. |
Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Stevens |
| Grace Peck |
Simpson College |
Sr. |
Des Moines, Iowa/Saydel |
| Morgan Kathman |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
Boone, Iowa/Boone |
| Doubles |
School |
Year |
Hometown/High School |
| Sidney Peterson |
Central College |
So. |
Johnston, Iowa/Johnston |
| Sophia Fain |
Coe College |
Sr. |
Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus |
| Aisha Gurung |
Coe College |
So. |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Alli Hagness |
Coe College |
Sr. |
Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus |
| Addison Leasure |
Coe College |
Jr. |
Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty |
| Alice Tysoe |
Coe College |
Jr. |
Sydney, Australia |
| Molly Jex |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
Germantown, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels |
| Salalee Seejong |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
Koh Samui, Thailand/Theeparatpittaya |
| Brooke Bloom |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
DeWitt, Iowa/Central DeWitt |
| Morgan Kathman |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
Boone, Iowa/Boone |
| Kaitlyn Olson |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
Osage, Iowa/Osage |
| Kendall Olson |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
Osage, Iowa/Osage |
| Honorable Mention |
School |
Year |
Hometown/High School |
| Hannah Higgins |
Buena Vista University |
So. |
Clarinda, Iowa/Clarinda |
| Macy Weller |
Buena Vista University |
Sr. |
Kasota, Minn./St. Peter Public |
| Emily Blom |
Central College |
Jr. |
Pella, Iowa/Pella |
| Emma Murphy |
Central College |
Sr. |
Liberty, Mo./Liberty |
| Claire Smock |
Central College |
So. |
Pella, Iowa/Pella |
| Cosette Gaines |
Coe College |
Jr. |
Colorado Springs, Colo./Discovery Canyon |
| Adriana Benavente |
University of Dubuque |
Sr. |
Arequipa, Peru/Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones |
| Sarah Wilde |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
Jefferson City, Mo./Capital City |
| Saydie Roling |
Loras College |
Jr. |
DeWitt, Iowa/Central DeWitt |
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to eight full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. The A-R-C also includes two affiliate members for men’s and women’s swimming & diving: Illinois Tech and University of Minnesota Morris.
