Box Score MADISON, Wis. – They were the No. 2 seed coming in, the champions going out. 

Senior Audrey Small and sophomore Jenna Benkufsky earned a pair of tough 8-6 wins on their way to claiming the No. 3 doubles title at Sunday's Midwest Conference Women's Individual Championships at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. 

Cornell's duo rallied for an 8-6 victory over Grinnell's top-seeded Addie Persian and Alyssa Trapp in the championship match. Small also reached her second consecutive No. 3 doubles championship match, where she finished runner-up in 2024. 

Small and Benkufksy rolled 8-1 over Monmouth in the quarterfinals. Cornell's duo then earned an 8-6 semifinal win over Lake Forest to book their spot in the championship match. 

"This is a culmination of all the hard work Audrey and Jenna have put in this fall season, and during their time here in the program," Cornell head coach Trent Schneider said. "It is so cool to see them and this entire team click and play their best tennis at the end of the season; so proud of everyone and this entire program."

Small and Benkufsky improved to 9-3 as partners this year. This is the first conference individual champion for the Rams since Julia Thome won the No. 1 singles bracket in 2016, and the first individual doubles title since Pavla Brachova and Emily Loewen won at No. 1 in 2006. 

Cornell wrapped up a historic fall campaign this weekend at the MWC Individual Championships. In addition to the No. 3 doubles title, the Rams fielded five runner-up finishes across nine brackets, marking the most individual championship match appearances in the same year for Cornell in program history.

In doubles, the No. 1 duo of Michaela Clark and Mac Graves earned swift wins in their first two rounds by 8-0 and 8-2 score lines over Lawrence and Grinnell. The pair dropped their final in a tightly contested 8-6 match to Lake Forest

Tansy Graves and Annika Dox powered through for an 8-5 win in the semifinals over Illinois College in the No 2. doubles bracket. Graves/Dox fell 8-1 in the championship match to Lake Forest. 

Cornell reached the championship in all three doubles brackets, the only school to do so this weekend. 

The Rams had a trio of players reach their respective singles championship matches. Clark at No. 1 cruised to a 6-0 6-0 win over Ripon in the quarterfinals, and defeated Monmouth 6-1 6-4 in the semifinals. Clark fell to defending champion Sofia Strupovets of Lake Forest 7-5 6-2. 

No. 2 player Mac Graves made her first championship singles match appearance after wins over Ripon 6-0 6-2, and Grinnell 7-6 6-2. Graves fell to Lilli Dockal of Lake Forest 6-3 6-0 in the finals. 

Benkufsky at No. 3 was the third Cornell individual to reach a singles championship match. Benkufksy breezed to a 6-2 6-1 win over Lawrence in the opening round, before avenging a previous loss a week prior to Lake Forest, winning 6-0 6-2 in the semi-final round. In the finals, Benkufsky dropped a 6-4 6-4 decision to Grinnell.

All six Rams who competed over the weekend earned a medal and reached a championship match. Clark, Mac Graves, and Benkufsky competed in the title match in both of their respective brackets. The Rams had reached one individual championship match since 2018. 

"You cannot ask for much more from this team," Schneider said. "To see the continued growth and development each day, each week and each month, is an absolute treat, and I am thankful I get to work with some amazing young people."

The Rams closed out the fall season with a 10-3 dual record overall, and 4-2 in MWC play, earning them the No. 3 seed at the MWC Team Tournament in May. 

Cornell will kick off their spring season campaign against Augustana on March 1.