After a successful high school tennis career at Ankeny Centennial, Jenna Benkufsky has continued to find success at the collegiate level.
The Cornell College sophomore teamed up with senior Audrey Small to claim the No. 3 doubles title in the Midwest Conference Women’s Individual Championships on Oct. 19 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. 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’s second-seeded duo rallied for an 8-6 victory over Grinnell’s top-seeded Addie Persian and Alyssa Trapp in the championship match. It was Small’s second consecutive appearance in the No. 3 doubles championship match after finishing as runner-up in 2024.
Small and Benkufksy rolled to an 8-1 win over Monmouth in the quarterfinals. Cornell’s duo then earned an 8-6 semifinal victory over Lake Forest to book their spot in the championship match.
Small and Benkufsky improved to 9-3 as partners this year.
“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 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.”
Cornell wrapped up an historic fall campaign. 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.
Benkufsky at No. 3 was the third Cornell individual to reach a singles championship match. She 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 semifinal round.
In the finals, Benkufsky dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Grinnell. All six Rams who competed at the meet earned a medal and reached a championship match.
“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 its spring season campaign against Augustana on March 1.
As a freshman in 2024-25, Benkufsky compiled an overall record of 39-21. She went 20-9 in singles and 19-12 in doubles.