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

• October 21: Men’s Soccer versus Concordia University Wisconsin
• October 21: Women’s Soccer versus Concordia University Wisconsin
• October 22: Women’s Volleyball versus Lakeland University
• October 24: Men’s and Women’s Swimming at UChicago Double Dual (versus University of Chicago and Wheaton College)

Now, here’s a look at the action from the week beginning October 12, 2026.

Women’s Volleyball Wins Pair of NACC Games

The Illinois Tech women’s volleyball team beat Dominican (Illinois) 3-0 on Thursday, October 15, and Milwaukee School of Engineering 3-1 on Saturday, October 17, to sweep its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference games last week. The Scarlet Hawks (14-8, 5-2 NACC) also fell to Wheaton 3-1 on October 17.

Karla Trautmann Mendez (B.ARCH. 4th Year) led the way in the win against Dominican with 10 kills and three service aces, while Victoria Aspurez (PSYC 4th Year) added four kills, which moved her past 500 kills for her career. Against MSOE, Mendez had 17 kills, while Rowan Midgette (AE 3rd Year) added 45 assists and 16 digs and Brooke Rifkin (FINA 4th Year) chipped in 30 digs and seven assists. Mendez had a team-best 12 kills against Wheaton.

Women’s Tennis Secures #3 seed in NACC Tournament

The Illinois Tech women’s tennis team capped its fall season with a 4-3 loss against St. Norbert on Saturday, October 17. The Scarlett Hawks (5-4, 5-2 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference), who will return to the court in February 2027, secured the third seed in the NACC tournament, which will take place on May 5, 2027.

Earning wins for Illinois Tech were Martyna Kalinowska (CS 3rd Year), Annaliese Kielmeyer (BME 1st Year), and Thea Salcedo (CHE 2nd Year), all in singles play.

Cross Country Competes in Wisconsin

At the Wisconsin Private College Cross Country Championships at Leeson Park in Beloit, Wisconsin, the Illinois Tech men’s cross country team finished in sixth place. The Scarlet Hawks were led by Davin Mikulcik (CE 2nd Year), who finished 21st in the 8K race in 29 minutes, 8.2 seconds.

The Scarlet Hawks women’s team didn’t score as a team but were led by Clara Pargett (AMAT 3rd Year), who finished the 6K race in 45th place in 27:20.2.

Women’s Soccer Sees 57-Game Unbeaten NACC Streak End

The Illinois Tech women’s soccer team lost its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game since 2022 in a 1-0 loss at Milwaukee School of Engineering on Saturday, October 17. However, the Scarlet Hawks (12-5, 9-1 NACC), who won 6-2 at Dominican (Illinois) on Wednesday, October 14, remain in first place in the NACC standings.

Tvesa Vathulya (PSYC 2nd Year) scored a goal and added two assists and Eva Narvarte (B.ARCH. 3rd Year) and Kayla Thomas (ME, M.S. 3rd Year) each scored a goal and had an assist to lead the way for Illinois Tech in the win over Dominican. Against MSOE, Clara Estiandan (CE 2nd Year) made nine saves.

Men’s Soccer Splits a Pair of NACC Games

The Illinois Tech men’s soccer team split a pair of Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference games last week, beating Dominican (Illinois) 2-1 on Wednesday, October 14, and falling 2-0 at Milwaukee School of Engineering on Saturday, October 17.

The Scarlet Hawks (8-5-2, 5-3-2 NACC) got goals from Junior Pineda-Alcala (B.ARCH. 2nd Year) and Darii Kishchak (Discover+ 1st Year) in win over Dominican, with David Rodriguez (AE, AMAT 4th Year) making four saves. Rodriguez made five saves against MSOE.

Trautmann Mendez Earns NACC Honors

Karla Trautmann Mendez (B.ARCH. 4th Year) earned Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Student-Athlete of the Week honors for Women’s Volleyball–Offensive Player for her play during the week of October 12, 2026.

Mendez notched 39 kills across three games last week, including two NACC wins, which helped the women’s volleyball team move up to fourth place in the NACC standings.

Scarlet Hawks of the Week

Men’s cross country student-athlete Davin Mikulcik (CE 2nd Year) and women’s soccer student-athlete Clara Estiandan (CE 2nd Year) were named the Scarlet Hawks of the Week for the week of October 12, 2026.

To learn more about everything happening with Illinois Tech Athletics, please visit www.illinoistechathletics.com.