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 30: Women’s Soccer versus Benedictine University
• September 30: Men’s Soccer at Benedictine University
• October 1: Women’s Volleyball versus Concordia University Wisconsin
• October 2–4: Men’s Tennis at Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division III Men’s Central Regional Championships (in Crawfordsville, Indiana)
• October 3: Women’s Volleyball versus Marian University
• October 3: Men’s and Women’s Cross Country at Brissman Lundeen Invitatonal (at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Illinois)
• October 3: Men’s Soccer at Marian University
• October 3: Women’s Soccer at Marian University
• October 3: Women’s Volleyball versus University of Chicago
• October 3: Women’s Tennis at Marian University

Now, here’s a look at the action from the week beginning September 21, 2026.

Women’s Soccer Pushes Winning Streak to Six Games

The Illinois Tech women’s soccer team continued to roll, picking up its fourth, fifth, and sixth straight victories over the last week. The Scarlet Hawks (7-3, 4-0 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference) earned NACC wins against Concordia Chicago 6-0 on Wednesday, September 23, and 7-1 against Edgewood on Saturday, September 26. Then, on Monday, September 28, the Scarlet Hawks beat Carthage 4-1 in a nonconference game.

Tvesa Vathulya (PSYC 2nd Year), Kayla Thomas (ME, M.S. 3rd Year), and Olivia Roy (PSYC 1st Year) each scored two goals, Taylor Hernandez (AE 2nd Year) added a goal of her own, and Eva Narvarte (B.ARCH. 3rd Year) chipped in two assists in the win over Edgewood. Against Concordia, Thomas scored three goals, Vathulya scored one goal and added three assists, and Narvarte and Leena Almeqbeli (BPSY 1st Year) each scored a goal. Almeqbeli added a goal in the win over Carthage, along with tallies from Avery Sealy (BIOL 4th Year), Grace Yager (UNDE 2nd Year), and Kayla Frassinelli (PSYC 1st Year).

Women’s Volleyball Wins Two of Three Matches

The Illinois Tech women’s volleyball dropped its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener on Wednesday, September 23, falling 3-0 to Aurora. But the Scarlett Hawks (9-5, 0-1 NACC) bounced back to sweep a tri-match on Saturday in Terre Haute, Indiana, beating host Rose-Hulman 3-0 and Trine 3-1.

Brooke Rifkin (FINA 4th Year) led the way against Aurora with 18 digs and Rowan Midgette (AE 3rd Year) added 14 assists. Against Rose-Hulman, Payton Smith (PSYC 3rd Year) had a team-best 15 kills, Midgette chipped in 34 assists, and Karla Trautmann Mendez (B.ARCH. 4th Year) added 10 kills and 14 digs. Mendez led the way with 15 kills against Trine, Rifkin added 18 digs, and Victoria Aspurez (PSYC 4th Year) chipped in with six total blocks and six kills.

Men’s Soccer Notches Shutout Conference Win

The Illinois Tech men’s soccer team split a pair of Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference games last week, winning 3-0 at Concordia Chicago on Wednesday, September 23, and falling just short, 1-0, against Edgewood on Saturday, September 26.

Logan Olree (BA 1st Year), Paul Balea (DSC 4th Year), and Adrian Cogolludo (ME 3rd Year) each scored a goal for the Scarlet Hawks (5-4, 2-2 NACC) in the win over Concordia. David Rodriguez (AE, AMAT 4th Year) made three saves against Concorida and made two against Edgewood.

Thomas Earns NACC Honor

Illinois Tech women’s soccer player Kayla Thomas (ME, M.S. 3rd Year) was named the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for Women’s Soccer–Offensive Player for her efforts last week.

Thomas scored five goals across two NACC wins on just six shots.

Scarlet Hawks of the Week

Women’s volleyball student-athlete Payton Smith (PSYC 3rd Year) and women’s soccer student-athlete Tvesa Vathulya (PSYC 2nd Year) were named the Scarlet Hawks of the Week for the week of September 21, 2026.