Each week, the Illinois Tech Athletics Digest will look back at the week that was in Scarlet Hawks athletics and provide a brief glimpse at what is up next.

Up First

• September 8: Women’s Tennis at Milwaukee School of Engineering
• September 8: Men’s Soccer at Hope College
• September 9: Women’s Volleyball versus Carthage College
• September 9: Women’s Soccer at Hope College
• September 11: Women’s Volleyball versus Anderson University (at the DePauw Volleyball Invitational)
• September 12: Men’s Cross Country at the Spartan Classic
• September 12: Women’s Volleyball versus Monmouth College (at the DePauw Volleyball Invitational)
• September 12: Women’s Cross Country at the Spartan Classic
• September 12: Women’s Volleyball versus DePauw University (at the DePauw Volleyball Invitational)
• September 12: Men’s Soccer versus Beloit College
• September 12: Women’s Tennis versus Concordia University (Wisconsin)

Now, here’s a look at the action from the week beginning August 31, 2026.

Women’s Volleyball Starts Strong

The Scarlet Hawks women’s volleyball team capped their time at the Wittenberg Women’s Volleyball Fall Classic by knocking off Ohio Wesleyan (3-1) and Capital University (3-0) on Saturday, September 5. Karla Trautmann Mendez (B.ARCH. 4th Year) combined for 21 kills and eight blocks in the two wins, while Olivia McMath (CHE 4th Year) had 50 assists, 18 digs, and two service aces on Saturday.

The Scarlet Hawks (2-1) lost their season opener on Friday, September 4, by losing 3-1 to Wittenberg in their opening of the Wittenberg Volleyball Fall Classic. Mendez led the way with 13 kills, and Brooke Rifkin (FINA 4th Year) had a team-best 18 digs.

Men’s Soccer Finishes Opening Week with Flurry

The Illinois Tech men’s soccer capped a strong first week of the season with back-to-back decisive victories, beating Wisconsin-Stevens Point 7-0 on Saturday, September 5, and Carthage 3-0 on Thursday, September 3. Paul Balea (DSC 4th Year) scored three goals and Logan Olree (BA 1st Year) added two more in the win over Wisconsin-Stevens Point, while Theo Balea (ACIT 2nd Year) scored and had an assist and Cal Graham (CS 3rd Year) and Paul Balea each added goals in the win over Carthage.

In their season opener on Tuesday, September 1, the Scarlet Hawks (2-1) fell 3-1 to visiting North Central College. Graham scored Illinois Tech’s goal.

Women’s Soccer Spits Games on California Trip

The Illinois Tech women’s soccer team traveled to California over Labor Day Weekend, and it split two games on the West Coast trip. The Scarlet Hawks (1-2) beat Occidental College in Los Angeles on Friday, September 4, 2-0 thanks to goals from Olivia Roy (PSYC 1st Year) and Leena Almeqbeli (BPSY 1st Year), but fell to #14 Cal Lutheran 3-0 in Thousand Oaks, California, on Sunday, September 6.

The Scarlet Hawks opened the season on Tuesday, September 1, at North Central College. Tvesa Vathulya (PSYC 2nd Year) scored early to help Illinois Tech build a halftime lead, but the hosts scored three times in the second half to grab a 3-1 win.

Women’s Tennis Falls to North Park

The Illinois Tech women’s tennis team capped non-conference play on Saturday, September 5, against North Park. The Scarlet Hawks fell 7-0.