The Concordia University men's tennis team picked up two big GPAC victories over Midland Lutheran College and Dordt College on Saturday in Fremont, Neb.
Concordia (5-4, 3-0 GPAC) first defeated Midland 7-2, completing a match that had been post-poned from earlier in the week. The only matches the Bulldogs dropped were in number one singles and number one doubles.
In match two the Bulldogs took on the Dordt College Defenders. In number one singles freshman Jon Schleicher dropped a close match, after losing in the first set, 6-4, Schleicher was able to bounce back and take the second set, 7-6. Dordt's Jake Compaan then was able to outlast Schleicher in the super tie break 10-8.
Dordt's Tim Walstra then had Concordia's Marcus Herring's number defeating Herring in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-2. Concordia bounced back and took the next four matches with ease as Scott Schlesinger, Tim Meyer, Kyle Winter, and Travis Sherman all picked up victories. Winter was pushed to a tie break but won the tie break set with ease 10-3.
In doubles play Dordt was able to tie the overall match winning in number one and number two doubles, 8-5 and 8-3 respectively. The number three doubles team of Winter and Sherman was able to finish off the Defenders, winning their doubles match 8-2. The doubles victory gave the Bulldogs the overall victory 5-4.
"It was a big victory for us as far as making it to the GPAC tournament, there is the usual powers and you know they are going to make it so the rest of us are battling to make the top four," said head coach Amy Harms. "This was a huge win from a momentum stand point, hopefully we can use this to finish strong."
The next action for the Bulldogs comes April 16 as the Bulldogs head to Hastings, Neb. to take on the Hastings College Broncos. Concordia is looking to avenge an early season non conference loss to the Broncos, 6-3.