ST. PETER, Minn. – For the tenth time in program history and the second consecutive season, Gustavus will head to the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships as Playoff champions of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).
The Gusties claimed the MIAC title with a 4-0 victory over Carleton in St. Peter on Saturday.
| 2026 MIAC Women's Tennis Playoffs | Box Score |
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Gusties earned the doubles point with a pair of 6-1 victories at the second and third positions.
-Gustavus also claimed victories at the first, third, and fourth singles spots.
-Karina Elvestrom's 6-1, 6-4 win at top singles sealed the match and playoff championship for Gustavus.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
-The Playoff title is the tenth for the Gusties, and the program's second in as many seasons.
-Gustavus has now been the victor in ten of the 19 MIAC playoff tournaments since the current postseason format was established in 2007.
CHAMPIONSHIP APPAREL
-Official playoff team-champion apparel is available for online purchase via the MIAC Shop, powered by UNRestricted MKTG.
-The online MIAC Shop features officially licensed short-sleeve t-shirts, long-sleeves, and hooded sweatshirts to commemorate the 2026 playoff tournament.
TOURNAMENT TIME
-With the victory, Gustavus earned the MIAC's automatic qualifier to the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships.
-This is the 28th time in program history that the Gusties will head to the national tournament.
-A total of 49 teams will be selected to compete at the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships, with 37 automatic qualifiers and 12 at-large bids.
-The championship bracket will be revealed in a selection show live-streamed on NCAA.com on Monday, May 4.
-The opening rounds of the 2026 Women's Tennis Championships will be played May 8-10 at non-predetermined regional sites, with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and national championship scheduled for May 18-21 at Champions Tennis Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
-The NCAA Division III Tennis Committees will also select 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams to compete in the NCAA Division III Singles & Doubles Tennis Championships, held May 22-25 at Champions Tennis Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
-The top two ranked singles players, along with the top-ranked doubles team, in each of the NCAA's eight regions will be invited to compete at the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Individual Championships, with another 16 singles players and eight doubles teams receiving at-large berths from the selection committees.
-Individual championship qualifiers and alternates will be announced on Wednesday, May 6, on NCAA.com.
MIAC AWARDS
-The MIAC will announce its annual women's tennis awards, including All-Conference, All-Playoff, and individual honors, on Tuesday, May 5, at 2:00 p.m. Central time.
2026 MIAC WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals | Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2026
No. 4 St. Catherine 4, No. 5 Macalester 1 | Box Score |
No. 3 Bethel 4, No. 6 Hamline 0 | Box Score |
Semifinals | Thursday, Apr. 30, 2026
No. 1 Gustavus 4, No. 4 St. Catherine 0 | Box Score |
No. 2 Carleton 4, No. 3 Bethel 1 | Box Score |
Championship | Saturday, May 2, 2026
No. 1 Gustavus 4, No. 2 Carleton 0 | Box Score |