CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Three Illinois women's tennis student-athletes earned College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District honors, the association announced on Tuesday.
Senior McKenna Schaefbauer was recognized for the third time in as many years at Illinois while junior Alice Xu and sophomore Ariel Madatali were honored for the first time of their careers.
After her senior season at Illinois, Schaefbauer is set to graduate later this month with a bachelor's degree in political science. Xu is working toward a degree in computer engineering while Madatali is undeclared as a student in the Gies College of Business.
To be eligible for the award, a nominee must have a 3.50 GPA and is at least a sophomore academically and athletically. Nominees must also be a starter or important reserve to the team and participated in at least 70 percent of the total matches played by the team that includes team scores.
The three Illini were staples in the lineup during the final season of the Evan Clark era. Schaefbauer led the group at No. 1 singles throughout the season, ranking as high as No. 29 while notching a 23-11 overall record with a 14-6 mark in dual play. Alice Xu went 8-6 overall in singles and 7-4 in dual play while Ariel Madatali finished with 12-14 and 5-9 readings. Xu shined in doubles play, racking up 16 wins and was ranked as high as No. 59 in the ITA poll. Madatali added 15 wins in doubles play and Schaefbauer posted 11.
The trio of CSC Academic All-District Illini helped the Orange and Blue to a 13-13 team record in the 2026 campaign.
