SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs battled Pratt Community College to come out on top, 5-2, on Thursday (Feb. 12) morning. Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis grabbed the doubles point and momentum to take the first five points in the contest. Santi Abadia clinched the match point.
For the second time this spring, CUNE takes the victory inside Walz Fieldhouse to move to 2-0 in duals.
“Pratt is a very strong juco team,” Head Coach Lisa Hart said. “We competed hard today, and I think we will be better because of this match. Nice to see Leo get his first college win today.”
No. 4 Abadia, a senior from Bogotá, Colombia, defeated Juan Pablo Guerra in straight sets (6-2, 6-0) to deliver the knockout match. The veteran won the 27th singles bout of his career and his first of the season.
Previously, No. 2s Nick Velders and Ben Chisholm took the doubles tally to best Tiago Marques and Guerra (6-2) with a decisive showing. Velders, Apeldoorn, Gelderland, The Netherlands, product has won five consecutive doubles matches going back to last year’s campaign.
No. 3 Leo Lopez won his first singles match as a Bulldog with a 6-0, 6-3 dominant showing over Marques. A freshman, out of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Lopez entered the lineup for only the second appearance after coming in mid-year to join the team.
The Beavers forfeited the No. 5 and No. 6 singles spots.
Concordia (2-0) will have a quick turnaround facing Bethany College (Kan.), 2-0, on Saturday. The two squads will compete at 12 p.m. CT at the Fremont Family YMCA. The Bulldogs defeated the Swedes in a 7-0 shutout last season.