PARK FOREST, Ill. — The Milwaukee Area Technical College women's tennis team saw its record-setting 2025–26 season come to a close over the weekend at the Region 4 Postseason Tournament, held Friday and Saturday at Park Forest Tennis and Health Club.

Competing in the nine-team field, where the top three finishers advanced to the NJCAA national tournament, the Stormers placed sixth overall with 6.5 team points—12.5 behind tournament champion Illinois Valley Community College, which finished with 19. McHenry County College (12) and Sauk Valley Community College (10.5) rounded out the top three to also advance to nationals.

A major factor in MATC's inability to crack the top-three was a string of narrow defeats. The Stormers dropped four separate matches in third-set tiebreakers across singles and doubles play, a swing that proved costly in the final standings.

"While we didn't reach our ultimate goal of qualifying for nationals, this team is ready to take the next step," MATC head coach Mark Picard said. "I'm excited to see how we can build on this success next year."

Every Stormers player contributed to the postseason push by securing at least one match victory during the tournament. On Friday, singles victories came from No. 1 Reese Thao, No. 2 Kamilla Mamedova and No. 6 Natalie Schroeder, each earning one point. All three added another half-point apiece by claiming bronze in their respective brackets, giving MATC 4.5 points after Day 1.

In Saturday's doubles action, the Stormers added two more points with first-round wins from Aisha Kaabachi and Alexandra Suchanek at No. 2 doubles, and Ellea Gleesing and Schroeder at No. 3.

"I'm very proud of my team for delivering the most successful season in program history by finishing 6–2 and tying for second in the Region 4 Dual Match Regular Season," Picard said. "We entered the regional tournament with high expectations and a chance to do something special. We fell just short. Had those tiebreakers gone our way, we would've finished second."