CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- A spot in the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament is on the line this week as the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Women's Tennis Tournament commences today, April 21. The six-team tournament will see the higher seed host throughout with the first round today, semifinals on Thursday, April 23, and the championship on Saturday, April 25.
In Waverly, Iowa, third-seeded Wartburg College (18-8 overall, 6-2 A-R-C) will play host to the sixth-seeded Loras College Duhawks (6-11 overall, 3-5 A-R-C). The two teams met back on September 10, 2025 with the Knights securing a 5-2 win over the Duhawks. The match in Waverly is slated for a 4:00 p.m. start on the campus of Wartburg College. The winner will advance to face the second-seeded Coe College Kohawks in the semifinals on the campus of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursday, April 23.
In the other opening round match, the fifth-seeded Central College Dutch (6-8 overall, 4-4 A-R-C) will travel to Dubuque, Iowa to square off with fourth-seeded University of Dubuque (10-5 overall, 5-3 A-R-C). The two teams met back on October 4, 2025 in Pella. The Spartans came away with a 4-3 victory. Match time is set for 4:00 p.m. from the campus of the University of Dubuque. The winner will advance to face the top-seeded Luther College in the semifinal round in Decorah, Iowa on Thursday, April 23.
The Luther College Norse (12-6 overall, 8-0 A-R-C) enter this year's tournament as the top seed. The Norse have eleven tournament championship titles in program history, with the tournament beginning in the 2002-03 season. The Norse had a perfect 8-0 conference record in the fall and are looking to cap off the season with another tournament title. The Norse will face the winner of No. 4 Univ. of Dubuque and No. 5 Central College on Thursday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m. in Decorah. Luther defeated both UD (6-1) and Nebraska Wesleyan (7-0) in the regular season.
Defending tournament champions and second-seeded Coe College (14-5 overall, 7-1 A-R-C) finished the regular season 7-1 in A-R-C matches. They are set to face the winner of No. 3 Wartburg and No. 4 Loras in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m. after receiving a first-round bye. The Kohawks earned wins in the fall over both Wartburg (7-0) and Loras (7-0).
The tournament champion receives the league's automatic berth to the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament. The first, second, and third rounds will take place on campus.
First Round - Tuesday, April 21
No. 6 Loras at No. 3 Wartburg - 4:00 p.m.
No. 5 Central at No. 4 Univ. of Dubuque - 4:00 p.m.
Semifinals - Thursday, April 23
No. 4/5 at No. 1 Luther - 4:00 p.m.
No. 3/6 at No. 2 Coe - 4:00 p.m.
Championship - Saturday, April 25
Semifinal #1 Winner vs. Semifinal #2 Winner
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 nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
