SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. – Down 0-2 in the final match set, No. 1 Hugo Fuentes buried his opponent to clinch the semifinal win (4-3) over second-seeded Mount Marty on Thursday (April 24). The No. 3 seed Bulldogs move forward to the GPAC Championship after defeating two GPAC foes, including a sweep of Doane (4-0) in the quarterfinal.
Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis ties the team season wins record with a 14-7 overall showing. The feat was previously held alone by the 2009-10 squad, but the Bulldogs will have a chance to break it in their upcoming championship bout. CUNE makes the second tournament final ever, joining the 2021 team.
“I’m really proud of our team,” Head Coach Hart said. “The grit that Hugo and the rest of the team showed was great to see. Regardless of wins and losses, everyone played really hard in the lineup. We started telling Hugo ‘it was all up to him’, to get him going, and he responded well. It was fun to win back-to-back matches and tie the school record. We will try to rest and recover as much as we can. We will be ready to face Morningside on Saturday.”
All tied up at three team points apiece, Fuentes battled back to take Patchara Suklian (3-6, 6-2, 6-3). The two players had met twice previously this season and Suklian had taken both matches in straight sets. The Denia, Spain, native took the third set to call match in the semifinal showdown.
“Proud of this team and everything we’ve fought through to get here,” Fuentes said. “Everyone’s effort has been key to this achievement, but it’s not over yet. Let’s win the final!”
No. 2 Nick Velders defeated Lucas Latil (6-0, 6-2) and No. 5 Ben Chisholm won 6-0, 6-3, both taking bagels in the first set. The first year transfer, Velders, has continued to dominate the NAIA with 19 wins in singles play. No. 4 Santiago Abadia claimed the important third team point by slicing Pablo Rivest (6-4, 6-3).
The Bulldogs were defeated in doubles, but No. 2s Ben Chisholm and Santiago Abadia won 6-2 for their 15th triumph as a pair.
Earlier in the day, Concordia silenced No. 6 Doane, starting with two wins in doubles via No. 3s Manuel Rodriguez and Grady Works (6-3), plus No. 1s Fuentes and Velders (6-4). Chisolm double-bageled his adversary, Julio Avila (6-0, 6-0), putting the Dawgs up 2-0 early.
No. 6 Michael Bedrosian quickly defeated Tanner Adams (6-1, 6-0) and put CUNE within striking distance of the quarterfinal victory. Velders punched it home by defeating Diego Infante 6-0, 6-1 in straight sets.
Fuentes, Works and Abadia were all leading in their competitors but were left unfinished due to the match being decided.
Concordia (14-7) is set to clash with 17th-ranked Morningside (23-1) on Saturday (April 26). The final is set to start at 11 a.m. CT at the Mason Family Tennis Complex. With inclement weather, the venue is set to be changed to the First Serve Tennis Center. The two teams met earlier in the season with the Mustangs winning out (4-3).