FREMONT, Neb. – With only one match to go in a 3-3 deadlock, unphased freshman Leo Lopez delivered the final strike to clinch the team victory over McPherson College (Kan.), 4-3, on Friday (Feb. 27). Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis has reached the second-best start in program history soaring to new heights in its trek to 8-0. Lopez remains unscathed with a 6-0 singles record as a Bulldog.
“So proud of our team,” Head Coach Lisa Hart said. “Our guys battled to the very last point. We lost in some close doubles points last week. We made some adjustments and got it done today. Credit to McPherson - they played extremely well in singles and gave us all we could handle. Very impressed with our freshman, Leo, who was very composed and mentally tough when the entire team match came down to him. Short turnaround as we compete against another very good opponent tomorrow at noon.”
Flashes of last season’s heartbreaking loss (3-4) to McPherson, the match got even tougher with veteran Santiago Abadia dropping out of No. 6 singles. With hearts on the line once again, the poised Lopez outlasted Balazs Temesvari in round one, 7-6(2), then stepped on the gas to emerge victorious, 6-2, in straight sets. A Santa Cruz, Bolivia, native, No. 5 Lopez sent Concordia into celebration in his sixth individual play win.
The 1990 Concordia Men’s tennis team has only a better starting record (11-0) than this 2026 squad. Mostly known for coaching Bulldog Men’s Basketball, Grant Schmidt was the program leader from 1988-92.
The all-important doubles point became crucial for the Bulldog blue looking back at how the clash began. No. 2s Ben Chisholm and Nick Velders defeated Jayson Wasserfuhr and Bruno Barrientos, 6-4. That left the door open for No. 3s Abadia and Daniel Caballeros clinched the team play mark, 6-4, against Balazs Temesvari and Davian Spies.
The returning GPAC player of the year No. 2 Velders made quick work of Wasserfuhr, sitting him down in consecutive sets (6-1, 6-3). Velders, out of Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, has a 7-0 singles record in continuing his dominance into this season.
No. 3 Caballeros defeated Barrientos, 6-4, 6-4, giving the Bulldogs the third point. The first year transfer has won five straight as an individual.
No. 1 Hugo Fuentes, No. 4 Chisholm and No. 6 Michael Bedrosian competed in singles.
Concordia (8-0) will have less than 24 hours before taking on Bethel College (Kan.), 3-1, on Saturday (Feb. 28). The Bulldogs will take first toss at 12 p.m. CT at the Ward Tennis Center.