Illinois Tech Athletics Digest: Scarlet Hawks Soar Across All Sports

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 22: Women’s Tennis versus Concordia University Chicago
• September 23: Men’s Soccer at Concordia University Chicago
• September 23: Women’s Volleyball versus Aurora University
• September 23: Women’s Soccer versus Concordia University Chicago
• September 25: Women’s Tennis at Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division III Women’s Central Regional Championships (in Kalamazoo, Michigan)
• September 26: Women’s Tennis at Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division III Women’s Central Regional Championships (in Kalamazoo, Michigan)
• September 26: Women’s Volleyball at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• September 26: Women’s Volleyball versus Trine University (at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)
• September 26: Men’s Soccer versus Edgewood University
• September 26: Women’s Soccer versus Edgewood University
• September 27: Women’s Volleyball versus Trine University (at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)
• September 28: Women’s Soccer versus Carthage College

Now, here’s a look at the action from the week beginning September 14, 2026.

Women’s Volleyball Sweeps Through Week

The Illinois Tech women’s volleyball capped a perfect week on Saturday, September 19, by sweeping Eureka and Alverno 3-0 on the final day of the Forester Invitational at Lake Forest College. The Scarlet Hawks (7-4) beat the host Foresters 3-1 on Friday night on the heels on winning a five-set match against Elmhurst on Wednesday, September 16.  

Lilia Donaldson (FORC 4th Year) led the way during the Saturday sweep with a combined 19 kills and nine blocks, while Payton Smith (PSYC 3rd Year) added a combined 18 kills and Rowan Midgette (AE 3rd Year) dished out a combined 36 assists and added 16 digs. On Friday against Lake Forest, Victoria Aspurez (PSYC 4th Year) had 11 kills and five blocks and Sydney Wilson (B.ARCH. 3rd Year) added a team-best 12 kills. Against Elmhurst, Brooke Rifkin (FINA 4th Year) had a team-best 24 digs, Karla Trautmann Mendez (B.ARCH. 4th Year) chipped in 11 kills and 20 digs, and Midgette added 32 assists, 12 digs, and five kills.  

Women’s Soccer Rolls to Pair of NACC Wins

The Illinois Tech women’s soccer team rolled to a pair of Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference victories last week, winning 7-0 at Aurora on Wednesday, September 16, and 5-0 at St. Norbert on Saturday, September 19.  

Eva Narvarte (B.ARCH. 3rd Year) and Kaitlyn Walsh (CE 4th Year) each scored two goals and Elisa Salcedo (B.ARCH. 1st Year), Olivia Roy (PSYC 1st Year), and Kayla Thomas (ME, M.S. 3rd Year) each scored once in the win over Aurora. At St. Norbert, the Scarlet Hawks (4-3, 2-0 NACC) got goals from Leena Almeqbeli (BPSY 1st Year), Thomas, Walsh, and Narvarte, as well as three assists from Emma Conway (B.ARCH. 1st Year)

Women’s Tennis Picks Up Conference Win

The Illinois Tech women’s tennis team beat Edgewood 6-1 on Saturday, September 19, in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match. The Scarlet Hawks (2-3, 2-1 NACC) got wins from Annaliese Kielmeyer (BME 1st Year), Angelica Conwell (B.ARCH. 5th Year), Maia Lecuona Ramos (BME 2nd Year), Thea Salcedo (CHE 2nd Year), and Paige Geiger (B.ARCH. 4th Year) in singles, while the doubles teams of Kielmeyer/Martyna Kalinowska (CS 3rd Year), Ramos/Salcedo, and Conwell/Kira Lai (AE 1st Year) also won.  

Men’s Soccer Splits Pair of NACC Games

The Illinois Tech men’s soccer team split a pair of Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference games last week, falling just short against visiting Aurora, 3-2, on Wednesday, September 16, and winning 2-0 at St. Norbert on Saturday, September 19.  

Junior Pineda-Alcala (B.ARCH. 2nd Year) and Logan Olree (BA 1st Year) scored in the win against St. Norbert and David Rodriguez (AE, AMAT 4th Year) made three saves, while Cal Graham (CS 3rd Year) and Dominik Kroupa (AE 4th Year) scored and Rodriguez made seven saves against Aurora.  

Cross County Teams Compete at Gil Dodds Invite

The Illinois Tech men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in Wheaton College’s Gil Dodds Invitational at St. James Farm in Warrenville, Illinois.

Benjamin Gaeta (ME 2nd Year) paced the men’s team in the 8k race by finishing in 29 minutes, 40.8 seconds. The women’s team was led by Clara Pargett (AMAT 3rd Year), who finished in 29:40.8 in the women’s 6k race.  

Marks Hired as Men’s Lacross Coach

Illinois Tech announced that Nicholas Marks has been hired as its new men’s lacrosse head coach. Marks joins Illinois Tech from Bellarmine University, where he served as the associate head coach.  

A former standout on the field who played in the National Lacross League and Major League Lacrosse, Marks also previously coached at Whittier College, North Central College, and Bucknell University.  

Scarlet Hawks of the Week

Men’s soccer student-athlete David Rodriguez (AE, AMAT 4th Year) and women’s soccer student-athletic Eva Narvarte (B.ARCH. 3rd Year) were named the Scarlet Hawks of the Week for the week of September 14, 2026.

Photo: Illinois Tech women’s volleyball player Lilia Donaldson (FORC 4th Year) hits the ball at the net (photo courtesy of Illinois Tech Athletics).