2024-25 Men's Tennis Schedule/Results
14-8 overall | 4-2 GPAC (T-2nd) | Season Stats | Roster
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Record |
| Sept. 10 | Nebraska Wesleyan University | Lincoln, Neb. | W, 6-1 | 1-0 |
| Sept. 20-22 | Kansas Wesleyan Invitational | Salina, Kan. | Results | |
| Sept. 20-22 | NAIA Central-West ITA Regional | Salina, Kan. | Results | |
| Sept. 27-28 | GPAC Fall Individual Tournament | Lincoln, Neb. | Results | |
| Feb. 1 | (22) McPherson College (Kan.) | Kearney, Neb. | Ernest Grundy Tennis Center | L, 3-4 | 1-1 |
| Feb. 7 | Iowa Central Community College | Fremont, Neb. | YMCA | L, 2-4 | 1-2 |
| Feb. 13 | Mount Marty University | Yankton, S.D. | W, 5-2 | 2-2 |
| Feb. 21 | Ottawa University (Kan.) | Lincoln, Neb. | Genesis Racquet Club | L, 3-4 | 2-3 |
| Feb. 22 | Quincy University (Ill.) | Pella, Iowa | Central College | L, 1-6 | 2-4 |
| Feb. 22 | Central College (Iowa) | Pella, Iowa | Central College | W, 5-2 | 3-4 |
| March 1 | Baker University (Kan.) | Seward, Neb. | Fieldhouse | W, 7-0 | 4-4 |
| March 7 | Friends University (Kan.) | Wichita, Kan. | W, 6-1 | 5-4 |
| March 8 | Bethany College (Kan.) | Lindsborg, Kan. | W, 7-0 | 6-4 |
| March 9 | Barton Community College (Kan.) | Great Bend, Kan. | L, 6-1 | 6-5 |
| March 22 | Kansas Wesleyan University | Salina, Kan. | W, 6-1 | 7-5 |
| March 22 | Avila University (Mo.) | Salina, Kan. | W, 7-0 | 8-5 |
| March 23 | *Mount Marty University | Seward, Neb. | Fieldhouse | W, 4-3 | 9-5, 1-0 |
| March 27 | *(18) Morningside University | Seward, Neb. | Outdoor Courts | L, 3-4 | 9-6, 1-1 |
| April 5 | *Northwestern College (Iowa) | South Sioux City, Neb. | First Serve TC | W, 4-3 | 10-6, 2-1 |
| April 9 | *Hastings College | Seward, Neb. | Outdoor Courts | W, 7-0 | 11-6, 3-1 |
| April 11 | *Midland University | Fremont, Neb. | Fremont YMCA | L, 3-4 | 11-7, 3-2 |
| April 16 | *Doane University | Seward, Neb. | Outdoor Courts | W, 7-0 | 12-7, 4-2 |
| GPAC Men's Tennis Championships: April 24, 26 | ||||
| April 24 | Doane (Quarterfinals) | South Sioux City, Neb. | First Serve TC | W, 4-0 | 13-7 |
| April 24 | Mount Marty (Semifinals) | South Sioux City, Neb. | First Serve TC | W, 4-3 | 14-7 |
| April 26 | (17) Morningside (GPAC Championship) | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 0-4 | 14-8 |
2024-25 Roster
| Name | Ht. | Yr. | Hometown | Previous School |
| Santiago Abadia | 5-9 | Jr. | Bogota, Colombia | Colegio Nueva York |
| Michael Bedrosian | 5-8 | So. | Fowler, Calif. | Sanger HS |
| Ben Chisholm | 6-1 | Fr. | Adelaide, Australia | Mercedes College Adelaide |
| Hugo Fuentes | 6-0 | Jr. | Denia, Spain | IES Sorts De La Mar |
| Mitch Krumm | 5-8 | So. | Wichita, Kan. | Maize South HS |
| Joey Melzer | 6-3 | So. | Gold Coase, Australia | Palm Beach Currumbin HS / Ashland Univ. |
| Ethan Phinney | 5-11 | So. | York, Neb. | York HS |
| Manuel Rodriguez Berdud | 5-11 | Sr. | Jerez de la Frontera, Spain | La Salle Buen Pastor |
| Nick Velders | 6-0 | Jr. | Apeldoorn, Gelderland (The Netherlands) | Veluws College Walterbosch |
| Grady Works | 6-0 | Sr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest HS |
STAFF
Lisa Hart, Head Coach (2nd Year)
Jorge Chevez, Assistant Coach
Featured Story
Season Preview: 2025 Concordia Men's Tennis
Jan. 29, 2025
Head Coach: Lisa Hart (2nd season at Concordia; 23rd season overall as a college head coach)
2023-24 record: 8-13 overall, 2-4 GPAC (T-5th)
Returners: Santiago Abadia (Jr.); Michael Bedrosian (So.); Hugo Fuentes (Jr.); Mitch Krumm (So.); Ethan Phinney (So.); Manuel Rodriguez (Sr.); Grady Works (Sr.).
Newcomers: Ben Chisholm; Joey Melzer; Nick Velders.
2024 GPAC All-Conference: Santiago Abadia (HM Doubles); Hugo Fuentes (HM Doubles).
Outlook
Only one senior departed from Head Coach Lisa Hart’s 2023-24 roster. In other words, the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis program welcomes back virtually all its key figures from a squad that experienced its share of ups and downs. Formerly the head coach at Virginia Tech and Washington State University, Hart sees a roster better equipped to compete with the top teams in the GPAC. The Bulldogs began laying groundwork for the spring of 2025 during this past fall semester.
When factoring in the three newcomers to the roster, Concordia believes strongly that it is trending in the right direction. The lineup has been fortified with enhanced quantity and quality as compared to a year ago.
“I’m really impressed with our returners,” Hart said. “They are way better tennis players than they were a year ago. They are even better now. Then we have the three new players, two transfers, Nick Velders and Joey Melzer, and Ben Chisholm, our freshman from Australia. With those three guys in our lineup with our returners, we are much improved from last year.”
The 2023-24 campaign, Hart’s first season leading the program, saw the Bulldogs finish with a dual record of 8-13 overall (2-4 GPAC). Just a few seasons earlier, Concordia placed as the GPAC runner up while showing the program has the potential to rise up near the top of the league standings. As for this year’s squad, juniors Santiago Abadia and Hugo Fuentes were both recognized with Honorable Mention All-GPAC accolades last season for their work on the doubles court.
Abadia and Fuentes are two of the headlining returners for a group teeming with experience. There are six holdovers who competed in at least 16 matches during dual action last season, including seniors Manuel Rodriguez and Grady Works and sophomores Michael Bedrosian and Mitch Krumm. Bedrosian paced the team with nine singles victories last season while Rodriguez claimed 14 singles wins in 2023. The only departure from last season is Luke Johnson.
Says the Lincoln Southwest High School alum Works, “Out of all of our practices, the level has just been super high from the top to the bottom of the roster. Everyone is playing great tennis, and it is really competitive in practice. The fact that we have so many good players on the team really helps us.”
Back in the fall, the Bulldogs engaged in a dual with Nebraska Wesleyan University and took part in two weekends of individual tournaments. A transfer from Prairie State College, Nick Velders immediately jumped into the lineup at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles as part of the 6-1 win over the Prairie Wolves. Velders is expected to play a key role along with two newcomers that joined the team at the start of the second semester: Chisholm and Melzer, both of Australia.
The dynamics lead Hart to believe that Concordia move up from the fifth-place GPAC finish it turned in last season when it placed behind Morningside, Midland, Mount Marty and Doane. The new arrivals and the way they have contributed to the program’s culture has a lot to do with such sentiments.
“Nick had a great fall season,” Hart said of Velders. “He finished with an ITA regional ranking and had some really good wins. Him and Hugo in doubles were fantastic in the fall. We’re really excited about Nick. We think he will be in one of those top couple of spots. Then we have the two guys from Australia. Joey is 6-3. Huge serve. Ben is kind of an all-around player. He’s been excellent in practice. They have been awesome. Our men’s team is really close off the court too and those three new players have just gelled with those guys.”
In addition to four U.S. natives, Concordia’s roster includes representation from Australia, Colombia, The Netherlands and Spain. Within the tennis program, they have come together and bonded around a common goal while developing tight bonds.
Says Works, “The team chemistry is great. Half the team lives together and the other half is there all the time anyways. Everyone is friends with each other, and we sit together in the dining hall. We all get along great.”
The budding chemistry along with the increased talent level have the Bulldogs dreaming big heading into the spring. The extensive and impressive coaching credentials brought by Hart are also impacting the program in a positive manner. Works has glowing remarks for Hart and calls her the “best coach we could ask for.”
Said Hart in looking back over the past year, “Our players did a really good job of learning what our expectations are and made a lot of progress. This fall we kind of got to see those results we were hoping for, especially in the GPAC individual tournament with our men’s team. We won all the doubles draws. That was a great way to end the fall.”
Said Works when asked about the team’s expectations, “The conversations when hanging out and talking about the season are about how good we actually are this year. Concordia really hasn’t been in this position prior to having Coach Hart here. Now that we have a lot of talent and a lot of good players, we talk about how we can win the GPAC.”
In this final week of preparation leading up to the season opener, Hart will look to nail down her singles and doubles lineups. In the matchup with Wesleyan, the singles lineup, in order, included Fuentes, Velders, Abadia, Rodriguez, Bedrosian and Works. There figure to be some tweaks this spring as Chisholm and Melzer add their names to the mix.
The Bulldogs will face a major early season test on Saturday (Feb. 1) when they take on 22nd-ranked McPherson College (Kan.) in a neutral site contest in Kearney. A series of nonconference matches will take place before GPAC play gets started in mid-March. The complete 2024-25 schedule can be viewed HERE.
Dawgs take No. 22 McPherson down to the wire
Feb. 1, 2025
KEARNEY, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis team was one point away from taking down preseason ranked No. 22 McPherson College (Kan.). Up 3-2, CUNE pushed the Kansas squad to the boundary but couldn’t find the final point to put the talented team away in the loss (3-4). The two teams met at a neutral site at the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 1).
The Seward side is 1-1 and will to finish out their next opponent in the upcoming week.
“Proud of how we competed today against a very good ranked McPherson team. We just needed the final point to pull out the win but we found out a lot about ourselves today. It was good to play against outside competition and see what we need to work on. We are excited to get back to work in preparation for the rest of our season!”
Top Dawg Hugo Fuentes was pitted against Daniel Marcano but he was no match for the Spaniard finishing his opponent off in straight sets (6-2, 6-2). After a rough start in spring of 2024, the No. 1 player has continued his dual win streak to five after he ended last season winning four of his last five.
No. 2 Nick Velders and No. 4 Manuel Rodriguez need three sets to defeat their McPherson opposition but took the lid off the can of worms that put MC down 3-2 late in the team dual. Newcomer Velders defeated Arthur Nardy (6-2, 3-6, 6-3) and veteran Rodriguez bested Celien Botlan (2-6, 6-2, 6-2) in comeback fashion.
With two singles matches remaining, McPherson stepped up and took both for the team win. In singles, Concordia also featured No. 3 Ben Chisolm, No. 5 Santiago Abadia and No. 6 Joey Melzer. In doubles, Fuentes and Velders pushed the match at No. 1 but fell just shy, 7-6 (7-6).
The Bulldogs (1-1) will take on Iowa Central Community College in a non-conference matchup on Friday (Feb. 7). The two teams will meet at a neutral site in Fremont, Neb. at 12 p.m. CT.
Dawgs improvement not enough versus Iowa Central
Feb. 7, 2025
FREMONT, Neb. – The Bulldogs started the match with a 2-0 lead before Iowa Central Community College rattled off four straight in the 4-2 loss on Friday (Feb. 7) afternoon. The two teams clashed inside the Fremont Family YMCA and Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis won their first doubles point of the spring season. Newcomer Nick Velders went unbeaten in singles and doubles with his partner Hugo Fuentes.
Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad drops to 1-2 overall and thinks the team will improvement as the spring goes along.
“Very proud of our guys. We had tremendous energy and fight in doubles - we lost some of our momentum in the singles, but we will continue to work on this and be back stronger!”
After a 0-7 loss to the Tritons last season, the Bulldogs came out swinging and sliced the competition in doubles. No. 1s Velders and Fuentes made quick work of Djamel Dine and Caleb Aryettey (6-2) continuing their chemistry from the Fall. No. 3s Santiago Abadia and Ben Chisholm completed the second doubles contest (6-3) to clinch the team point.
In singles, No. 2 Velders didn’t give up a game to Aryettey blanking the ICCC player 6-0, 6-0. The transfer from Prairie State College has an unbeaten record in individual play (3-0).
After taking the early lead (2-0), Iowa Central responded with wins at No. 4, 1 and 3 to take a 3-2 lead. With the match hanging in the balance, No. 5 Abadia lost the first set (2-6) but battled back in the second to tie (5-5) late. Dine and Abadia split the next two (6-6) and have to battle it out in a tiebreak. Dine would take the final to finish the match.
Others competing in singles for the Bulldogs were, No. 1 Fuentes, No. 3 Manuel Rodriguez, and No. 4 Chisholm. No. 6 Grady Works was unfinished in his match versus Mahefa Rakotomalala.
Concordia (1-2) is set to face Mount Marty (1-1) in a non-conference matchup on Thursday (Feb. 13). The Lancers have won the last three games as the Bulldogs will look to break up the streak in South Dakota.
Velders and Works use gritty showing to defeat Lancers
Feb. 13, 2025
YANKTON, S.D. – After losing the doubles point in heartbreaking fashion, the Bulldogs showed grit, fighting back in two separate singles matches to snatch the road victory (5-2) from Mount Marty. No.2 Nick Velders and No. 5 Grady Works were instrumental in the rally as the senior clinched the winning point over the Lancers. The two teams claimed this as a non-conference match and will play for the conference standings later in the season.
Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad (2-2) defeated Mount Marty for the first time improving in her second year as the leader of the Dawgs.
“So proud of our effort today,” Coach Hart said. “This match was an extremely long match - almost 5 hours long. Very proud of the tenacity and grit our entire team displayed today. Our players kept their enthusiasm and high play for an extended amount of time! Go Dawgs!”
Tied 2-2, Velders felt momentum slipping away after giving up his first set (6-7 (4-7)) and down 4-5 in the second. The Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, native clapped back winning three straight games taking set two (7-5). The Prairie State College transfer would give the Dawgs the late lead (3-2) after defeating Kazuma Kato (10-3) in the tiebreak third set.
Looking for the knockout swing, Works split sets with Lucas Latil (6-3, 1-6) and went to another 10-point tiebreak set. Latil squashed what seemed like all hope going up 9-3 in the set, but the senior out of Lincoln Southwest silenced his opponent for eight straight points to clinch the winning fourth point.
Down 1-0, No. 3 Manuel Rodriguez and No. 4 Ben Chisholm headed the initial resurgence and smashed two team points to take back the lead. Rodriguez took care of business in straight sets over Luis Lainer (6-3, 6-3) and Chisholm responded similar to other teammates with a comeback victory defeating Shriraam Anbanatan (4-6, 6-4, 10-2).
No. 6 Santiago Abadia kept the good times rolling over Kenzo Nishioka gritting out the initial set (7-6 (8-6)) and finished the final one, 6-4.
In doubles, Hugo Fuentes and Velders at No. 1s, won 6-3 against their opponents.
Concordia (2-2) will come back to Seward for its first home dual against Ottawa University (0-1) out of Kansas. The two teams will compete on Thursday (Feb. 20) at 11 a.m. CT in the Walz Fieldhouse. Last season, the Braves defeated the Bulldogs 7-0 in Lawrence, Kan.
Concordia falls in cliff-hanger versus Ottawa
Feb. 21, 2025
LINCOLN, Neb. - Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis faced off against the Ottawa Braves in a thrilling tennis dual that came down to the wire, with Ottawa ultimately prevailing 4-3. Despite a strong effort, particularly in doubles where they secured two wins, the Bulldogs fell just short as Ottawa escaped via singles play to claim victory. The contest was moved to Friday (Feb. 21), resulting in the match being played in Lincoln.
CUNE has a 2-3 record with two close one-point losses that show significant improvement from a season ago.
“What a match,” said Coach Hart. “We fought hard and were just a few points away from beating such a talented Ottawa team. We lost to this team 0-7 last season, but the boys have grown so much over the past year. We were in the fight today against a team receiving votes, but we are right there. I know we will continue to get better and we have two more opportunities to show who we are tomorrow.”
The decisive moment came in No. 4 singles, where Concordia’s Ben Chisholm battled Bernardo Figueiredo in a match that stretched to a dramatic finish. Chisholm, a 17-year old freshman, pushed Figueiredo to the limit in a contest that featured momentum swings and clutch play. After dropping the first set 4-6, Chisholm, an Adelaide, Australia native, rallied to take the second set 7-6(7), winning a tight tiebreaker to force a match tiebreaker.
With the team score hanging in the balance (3-3), the third set became a 10-point tiebreaker showdown. Chisholm fought hard but fell 10-7, handing Ottawa the crucial fourth point to seal the dual.
In other singles, Concordia found mixed results. Nick Velders delivered a standout performance at No. 2, outlasting Ottawa’s Oscar Giorgio 7-6(4), 6-4 with steady play. Velders, hailing from Apeldoorn, Gelderland, The Netherlands, has an unbeaten 5-0 dual record since the transfer joined the Dawgs. No. 6 Santiago Abadia dominated Yuki Usuda 6-3, 6-0 with relentless precision.
In doubles, Concordia struck first with authority. At No. 3, Chisholm teamed with Abadia to cruise past Usuda and Daniel Sanchez Rojas 6-2. Michael Bedrosian and Manuel Rodriguez edged out Figueiredo and Santiago Tartaglia 7-6(4) at No. 2, showcasing gritty teamwork on their way to a 1-0 lead after doubles.
However, losses piled up elsewhere. In other singles matches, Hugo Fuentes fell to Tartaglia 3-6, 4-6 at No. 1, while Manuel Rodriguez fell against Ben Russell, losing 1-6, 3-6 at No. 3. Grady Works put up a fight at No. 5 but couldn’t hold off Sanchez Rojas, dropping a 6-7(6), 2-6 decision.
The Bulldogs (2-3) will look to regroup, drawing on their doubles strength against the NCAA division 2’s Quincy University (Ill.) and division 3’s Central College (Iowa) tomorrow (Feb. 22). Concordia will take on the Hawks at 12 p.m. CT and the Dutch at 4 p.m. CT in Pella, Iowa.
Concordia splits matches in Iowa
Feb. 22, 2025
PELLA, Iowa – With two matches scheduled in Pella, Iowa, the Bulldogs competed against Quincy University (Ill.) and Central College on Saturday (Feb. 22). Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis defeated the Dutch (5-2) but lost to the Hawks (1-6). Nick Velders continues to dominate singles as he went 3-0 this week.
Head Coach Lisa Hart and company are 3-4 overall and continue to get better with every match.
“Proud of this team’s fight,” said Coach Hart. “After losing the first match against Quincy, they could have had a bad attitude and let the loss affect the next one. They didn’t. These guys rose to the occasion and were able to get the four points we needed after playing three duals in two days. That takes guts and they did it well. While they have earned a break, we will get prepared for Baker this coming Saturday.”
No. 6 Michael Bedrosian entered the singles lineup and sliced Gavin Jablonski in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) to clinch the game winner over Central.
Leading up to the fourth point, No. 3 Ben Chisholm gained momentum while blasting Jack Briggs (6-1, 6-2). Velders took the No. 1 slot versus Central and continued his reign only giving up one game (6-0, 6-1) in his second match thrashing. He remains unbeaten in dual singles play (6-0).
Previous to the singles wins, Concordia took out their brooms and swept through the Dutch in doubles play. No. 2s Chisholm and Abadia won with ease (6-2) and No. 3s Joseph Melzer and Grady Works clinched the doubles draw after a 7-6 (6) battle. Hugo Fuentes and Manuel Rodriguez at No. 1s, completed the winning spurt with a 6-4 set.
Melzer, hailing from Gold Coast, Australia, kept the good times rolling but not without a fight from Alex Slaymaker. The transfer, via Ashland University, won in two twin sets which end at 7-6 (4).
No. 2 Velders had a heck of a day defeating Quincy’s Joseph Restrepo after a slow start in set one (0-6). The transfer, out of Prairie State College, returned serve with a 6-4 second set win and a 10-5 tiebreak set. The Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, native was the lone point scored for the Bulldogs against the Hawks.
In doubles, No. 3s Santiago Abadia and Ben Chisholm kept the Illinois lineup from sweeping with a 6-3 set win over Gerard Abad Puig and Pablo Mateos Niella.
Concordia (3-4) will dual with Baker University (1-1) of Kansas on Saturday (Mar. 1). The Bulldogs are set to host the Wildcats at 1 p.m. CT inside the Walz Fieldhouse. CUNE defeated Baker (5-2) last season in Fremont.
Concordia Bulldogs serve shutout to Baker in showdown
Mar. 1, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. - The Concordia University, Nebraska Men's Tennis team delivered a resounding victory against Baker University, Kan., on March 1, inside Walz Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs outperformed the Wildcats with a definitive 7-0 team score in this regular season encounter. Ben Chisholm clinched the winning point in singles.
Head Coach Lisa Hart's squad moves to .500 (4-4) with three non-conference matches remaining before entering GPAC play.
"Really proud of the guys to come out strong, " said Coach Hart. "We got ahead early. Won the doubles point and that set the tone for the rest of the match. It was good to see many guys have individual wins while also getting the team win. We are growing with every match and it's great to see their hunger translate to wins."
The Bulldog's success was highlighted in their singles matches, where each player won decisively against their counterparts. Hugo Fuentes led the charge by defeating Corvin Christ 6-4, 6-2, followed by Nick Velders who outplayed Juan Avila Gonzalez with a score of 6-1, 6-1. Manuel Rodriguez, Ben Chisholm, Grady Works, and Joey Melzer all registered solid wins, contributing to the team's clean sweep in singles. The standout doubles teams were also in fine form, with Velders and Fuentes toppling Immo Ferger and Christ, 6-1, and Chisholm partnering with Santiago Abadia to defeat Carlos Alcala and Kaleb Nelson, 6-2.
Despite a tough challenge, the doubles pair of Michael Bedrosian and Manuel Rodriguez faced a setback, losing 1-6 against Arturo Nunez and Juan Avila Gonzalez. This minor hiccup, however, did little to sway the overall outcome as the Bulldogs dominated the matches throughout the day, solidifying their position and showcasing their skills on home turf.
Looking ahead, the Bulldogs will face Friends University (1-1) in Kansas on March 7. Concordia's tennis team (4-4) is keen to maintain their two-win streak momentum and continue their winning ways as they progress through the season.
Spring break stretch opens with 6-1 rout at Friends
Mar. 7, 2025
WICHITA, Kan. – Spring break in the lovely state of Kansas got underway on Friday (March 7) as the Concordia University, Men’s Tennis squad experienced the great outdoors for the first time this spring semester. The Bulldogs nearly pulled off a sweep while winning in at Riverside Tennis Center in Wichita over Friends University, 6-1. Concordia won all three doubles matches and all but one singles contest in taking care of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent.
Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad has won three in a row as it begins a hectic three-match weekend within the state of Kansas. The Bulldogs have pushed their record above .500 at 5-4.
“I am impressed with our continued growth and the depth of our lineup,” Hart said. “We continue to improve and I am very pleased with how we fought and competed in windy conditions today. Excited to get back on the court tomorrow.”
Four Concordia players won their singles and doubles matches on Friday. On the doubles court, the Bulldogs swept past the Falcons. The winning combinations included Hugo Fuentes and Nick Velders at No. 1 (6-3), Manuel Rodriguez and Joseph Melzer at No. 2 (7-5) and Santiago Abadia and Ben Chisholm at No. 3 (6-3). That momentum carried into singles.
The only team point for Friends came at No. 1 singles, where Cristobal Fuentes edged Hugo Fuentes, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1. It was also tight at No. 2, where Velders emerged victorious, 6-4, 2-6, 10-7. The rest of the singles matches were won in straight sets by Concordia: 6-0, 6-3, at No. 3 by Chisholm, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 4 by Rodriguez, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5 by Abadia and 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 at No. 6 by Grady Works. A junior from The Netherlands, Velders stayed perfect with a 9-0 singles record (8-0 at No. 2) in dual matches this season. Meanwhile, Abadia and Chisholm are 6-1 when played together in doubles.
On the heels of rattling off three-straight wins (over Central College, Baker University and Friends), the Bulldogs will attempt to keep the streak intact on Saturday when they will be in Lindsborg, Kan., to take on Bethany College. The match is scheduled to get underway at 4:30 p.m. CT.
Bulldogs blank Bethany in continuing Kansas tour
Mar. 8, 2025
LINDSBORG, Kan. – The hot streak continues for Nick Velders and the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis team. One day after toppling Friends University on the road, the Bulldogs crashed Lindsborg, Kan., and swept their way past Bethany College, 7-0. Seven Concordia players contributed in singles and/or doubles in Saturday (March 8)’s trouncing of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference foe.
Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad will take a four-match winning streak into the final contest of the weekend road trip. The Bulldogs have improved to 6-4 overall.
A transfer from Prairie State College, Velders pushed his singles record to a perfect 10-0 while taking care of his counterpart from Bethany, 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 2 position. Nine of Velders’ 10 wins have come at No. 2. Meanwhile, senior Grady Works clinched the team win on Saturday when he won at No. 6, 6-3, 6-3. Everyone else was also a winner, but several matches were highly contested. Tiebreakers were necessary for Hugo Fuentes at No. 1, Ben Chisholm at No. 3 and Joseph Melzer at No. 5. Things were a bit smoother at No. 4 as Santiago Abadia triumphed, 6-4, 6-0.
In doubles, Concordia started strong while winning convincingly at all three spots. The victorious combinations were Fuentes and Velders at No. 1 (6-0), Works and Manuel Rodriguez at No. 2 (6-3) and Abadia and Chisholm at No. 3 (6-1). Abadia and Chisholm are now 7-1 as a doubles pair while Fuentes and Velders are 6-3 when teaming up.
A day earlier, Bethany (1-2) fell by a 4-3 score to John Brown University (Ark.). The Bulldogs have won each of the past five series meetings over the Swedes.
The Kansas weekend tour will make a stop in Great Bend on Sunday. The Bulldogs are set to take on Barton Community College at 12 p.m. CT in a men’s and women’s doubleheader. The Cougars compete as a member of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.
Dawgs slip in final Kansas matchup on Sunday
Mar. 9, 2025
GREAT BEND, Kan. – Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis suffered a tough 6-1 defeat at the hands of Barton Community College on Sunday, March 9, at Veterans Memorial Park. The Bulldogs struggled against a sharp Cougar squad that improved to 2-1, snapping momentum after winning five of their last six matches. Grady Works secured the Bulldogs’ lone point in the loss.
Now 6-5, the Cougars halted the four-game winning spurt but go 2-1 over the weekend.
“Barton is an extremely talented team,” Head Coach Lisa Hart said. “We fought hard against them but they are a team we need to play our best tennis for. Grady did a good job of playing smart tennis and helped us at the back end of the lineup. We look forward to the rematch with Mount Marty as we start conference play.”
The match slipped away at No. 4 singles, where Barton’s Shane Tapera clinched the victory for the Cougars by defeating Concordia’s Joseph Melzer 6-3, 6-2. Melzer battled hard but couldn’t counter Tapera’s steady play, which handed Barton an insurmountable lead and sealed the Bulldogs’ fate.
Across the singles lineup, the Bulldogs found little traction. At No. 1, Hugo Fuentes fell 6-0, 6-1 to Gabriel Garay, who set a punishing tone early. Nick Velders put up resistance at No. 2 but dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to Victor Alves. The Prairie State transfer took his first dual singles loss after winning 10 straight.
Ben Chisholm fought at No. 3, only to lose 6-4, 6-1 to Mohhamed Abuzed, while Santiago Abadia pushed Armando Sigauque to 7-5, 6-4 at No. 5 but couldn’t turn the tide. Grady Works provided a silver lining at No. 6, rallying past Hayden Loffler 3-6, 6-1 (7) in a gutsy three-set win that prevented a Barton sweep.
Doubles offered no reprieve for the Dawgs. Fuentes and Velders battled at No. 1 but fell 6-8 to Garay and Loffler in a close contest. The No. 2 pair of Manuel Rodriguez and Works was overwhelmed 0-8 by Alves and Tapera, a stinging shutout. At No. 3, Abadia and Chisholm couldn’t keep pace with Oliver Naude and Abuzed, losing 3-8 as Barton swept the doubles point.
Dropping to 6-5, Concordia now looks to rebound from this setback. While Barton is at a 2-1 start, the Bulldogs will regroup and refocus, to face Mount Marty (2-4) on Thursday, March 20 in their GPAC opener. The two will meet at the Bulldog Tennis Courts in Seward, Neb., at 1 p.m. CT. CUNE defeated the Lancers (5-2) earlier this season in a non-conference bout.
Dawgs maul Coyotes and Eagles in doubleheader
Mar. 22, 2025
SALINA, Kan. – The Concordia University, Nebraska men’s tennis team flexed its muscle on Saturday (March 22), taking down Kansas Wesleyan University, 6-1, and Avila University (Mo.), 7-0, in a doubleheader at the Salina Tennis Alliance Tennis Center. No. 3 Ben Chisholm won both his singles matches, only giving up five games.
The Bulldogs have won six of their last seven and pushed their season mark to 8-5.
Against Kansas Wesleyan, Concordia stormed to a 3-0 doubles sweep. Nick Velders and Hugo Fuentes topped Adam Hanson and Luke Craft 7-5 at No. 1, while Manuel Rodriguez and Grady Works edged Raul Davalos and Jacob Phelps 7-6 (4) at No. 2. Santiago Abadia and Ben Chisholm rolled at No. 3, 6-1, over Paul Jittawait and Gavin Chavez.
Singles play saw No. 1 Fuentes beat Davalos 6-3, 6-4, and Velders downed Hanson 7-5, 6-1 at No. 2. Chisholm routed Craft 6-0, 6-4 at No. 3. Velders, a Prairie State College transfer, has a 12-1 record and is four wins away from tying (16) the all-time single season win record (singles).
Works handled Jittawait 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5, and Abadia blanked Jack Hanson 6-0, 6-4 at No. 6. Kansas Wesleyan’s lone point came at No. 4, where Jacob Phelps outlasted Joseph Melzer 6-1, 7-6 (9-7). For the Bulldogs, the win over the 6-1 Coyotes was a confidence boost, a sign of their ability to dominate when clicking.
Later, Concordia faced Avila, likely emerging with a 7-0 victory. With the Bulldogs entering a different lineup, Manuel Rodriguez and Michael Bedrosian secured No. 2 doubles, with Abadia and Chisholm winning at No. 1. The two have amassed nine wins as a pair. The Eagles forfeited doubles No. 3 and No. 6 singles.
In singles, the top two seeds, Fuentes and Velders, didn’t give up a game going for a 6-0, 6-0 sweep in early singles play. No. 3 Chisholm (6-1, 6-0), No. 4 Rodriguez (6-0, 6-1) and No. 5 Melzer (6-1, 6-0) showed utter dominance over the Eagles, only giving up three games in total.
Concordia (8-5, 0-0 GPAC) will be back on the courts at home hosting Mount Marty (3-4, 0-0 GPAC) on Sunday (March 23). The Bulldogs will face off versus the Lancers at 1 p.m. CT inside the Walz Fieldhouse. They bested the Lancers earlier this season in a 5-2 win in a non-conference matchup.
Concordia rallies from down 3-1; Edges Mount Marty
Mar. 23, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska’s men’s tennis team stared down a 3-1 deficit against Mount Marty on Sunday (March 23), before storming back to claim a 4-3 victory inside Walz Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs dropped the doubles and an early singles point, putting them on the brink of defeat. Unphased, Concordia rattled off three straight singles wins to secure the comeback for its third consecutive team triumph.
Head Coach Lisa Hart’s roster boosts its record to 9-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
“Really, really proud of the fight in our team,” Coach Hart said. “Getting down 1-0 after the doubles point, which was an emotional point. We kept fighting and fighting. It came down to our No. 5 and 6. We knew if we could get to five and six with the match still on the line, we would have a really good chance to win. That was our goal going in.”
Grady Works delivered the knockout blow, clinching the win with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Luis Lainer in the No. 5 singles match. The Lincoln Southwest product’s steady play flipped the final domino to win the first conference bout. Works, a senior of Lincoln, Neb., claimed his eighth victory (singles) of the season.
Said Works, “It was really good to have my team by me in the match. We have been talking about this one for a long time and we knew it was going to be a close one. Just having all my friends and family here, it meant a lot.”
Santiago Abadia was a huge part of the momentum continuing to roll, crushing Shriraam Anbanatan 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. The junior’s lopsided win leveled Concordia with the visitors, igniting hope for the home court Dawgs.
Nick Velders scored the second point, topping Kazuma Kato 6-4, 6-2 in the No. 2 slot. Ben Chisholm chipped in early, beating Guilherme Nomura 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4 singles to keep the Bulldogs alive earlier in the rally.
Concordia’s lone doubles win came from Fuentes and Velders, who edged Oleksander Makarov and Pablo Rivest, 6-4.
Mount Marty struck first, winning doubles points at No. 2 (7-5) and No. 3 (6-2), while Suklian won over Hugo Fuentes 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1 singles.
Concordia (9-5, 1-0 GPAC) is set to welcome the defending GPAC champions Morningside (13-1, 1-0 GPAC) on Saturday (March 29). The Bulldogs will host the Mustangs in Seward at 12 p.m. CT.
Velders' slices competition for first conference honor
Mar. 26, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – Newcomer Nick Velders led the Bulldogs to three straight wins, earning a weekly honor as announced by the league office on Wednesday (March 26). Velders claimed the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men's Tennis Player of the Week after defeating all competitors in consecutive sets. He earns the first honor of his career and the first for Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis this season.
No. 2 Velders led the team with three victories over Kansas Wesleyan University, 6-1, Avila University (Mo.), 7-0, and Mount Marty, 4-3. The Prairie State College transfer defeated his opponents 37-12 (3-0) in games and paired with Hugo Fuentes at No. 1s for a 7-5 set victory over the Coyotes and 6-4 over the Lancers.
In his first year at Concordia, the Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, native has a team-high 13 wins with only one loss at No. 2 singles. He was recently ranked No. 45 in ITA NAIA singles. Velders and Fuentes are 8-4 as a team this season.
The Bulldogs are set to face Morningside tomorrow (March 27) at noon CT. CUNE will take on the Mustangs at the Bulldogs Tennis Courts in Seward, Neb.
Gritty Dawgs push No. 18 Mustangs down to the wire
Mar. 27, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – Hugo Fuentes and Nick Velders pushed the pace against the previously dominant No. 18 Morningside but with a 3-3 tie down to the final match, the Dawgs came up short (3-4). Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis took the doubles point early with gritty team play as the pairings continue to thrive under Head Coach Lisa Hart.
The men’s squad moves to 9-6 overall and has had a 1-1 early GPAC showing in conference.
“Today was an awesome day of tennis,” Coach Hart said. “We competed well and played well. Heartbreaking match to lose 4-3, but I know our players are committed to putting in the work to improve upon some things. They will get ready for the rest of our GPAC season and the GPAC tourney! I’m extremely proud of every member of our team - their energy and effort today were outstanding.”
After dropping the No. 3 doubles match, No. 2s Santiago Abadia and Ben Chisholm defeated Alexis Diaz and Marcos Menendez Hervella (6-4) to even the doubles play. The pair has totaled a team high 10 wins (10-3 record) in their first year as a duo. No. 1s Velders and Fuentes lost a 5-3 lead as Morningside tied the match 5-5, making even the doubles set come down to the wire. The pair of Bulldogs stepped on the gas and won the final two games, taking the victory (7-5) over Mark Trenkle and Santiago Minetti.
Concordia found itself down 3-1 after the Mustangs responded at No. 3, 4 and 5 singles. No. 2 Velders flexed his muscles over a talented Menendez Hervella, finishing a battle for straight sets (7-6 (5), 7-6 (4)). The Apeldorn, The Netherlands, native seized another win in individual play and has tallied a 14-1 overall singles record.
Giving up the first set (2-6), the Denia, Spain, Fuentes dialed up the pressure on Mark Trenkle and grabbed the following set (6-3). The IES Sorts De La Mar product kept putting on more steam and drilled through the final set (6-1) to tie the match at three apiece.
No. 6 Abadia matched with Jesse Gerth in the final bout and the Mustang’s steady play and hot serve led to a loss (1-6, 1-6) for the Dawgs.
The talented Morningside (15-1, 3-0 GPAC) stays unbeaten in the conference led by Gerth and Mathys Arnold going unbeaten on the day. The Mustangs will take on Northwestern at home next week.
Concordia (9-6, 1-1 GPAC) will take on the Red Raiders (3-7, 0-0 GPAC) after a break from the competition court. The Bulldogs defeated Northwestern (4-3) in a tight match last season.
Clutch Works shuts down Red Raiders' comeback
Apr. 5, 2025
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. – With the fate of the match falling into the hands of Grady Works once again, the senior, out of Lincoln Southwest, delivered to eliminate Northwestern (4-3) from a match resurgence. Dominant play from Nick Velders and Santiago Abadia helped push Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis to double digit wins on the season.
The Bulldogs are 10-6 overall and remain in the conference race with a 2-1 record.
“Proud of our team today,” Coach Hart said. “They continue to take care of business - doing a great job controlling the things they have control over.”
Tied with three points apiece, No. 4 Works found himself in the same situation as the Mount Marty match just 13 days before (March 23). Made for the moment, the Lincoln, Neb., native severed all hope with a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 triumph over Arthur Vicente. Works has reached a 9-3 singles record and is 2-0 in the fourth slot in the lineup.
The Bulldogs needed two more singles wins to even reach the match winner. Velders and Abadia came through with straight-set commanding victories. No. 2 Velders defeated David Bomgaars, 6-2, 6-3, and No. 6 Abadia gathered the only shutout (6-0, 6-0) over Tanner Laube. Velders claimed his 15th win (15-1) and Abadia his eighth (8-6) in singles this year.
In doubles, Concordia reigned with a sweep in duo play. No. 2s Abadia and Ben Chisholm reached their 11th pairing win over Mateo Flores and Collin Harmelink. No. 3s Works and Manuel Rodriguez defeated Vicente and Laube, 6-0, with No.1s Hugo Fuentes and Velders winning 6-2 over Bomgaars and Jose Calderon.
No. 1 Fuentes, No. 3 Chisholm and No. 5 Joseph Melzer all competed in singles play.
Concordia (10-6, 2-1 GPAC) will face off against an in-state foe, Hastings (3-10, 0-3 GPAC), on Wednesday in Seward. The Broncos and Bulldogs will start doubles play at 11 a.m. CT at the Bulldog Tennis Courts. CUNE has had the upper hand in the last four matchups, falling last in 2019.
Concordia slices Hastings; Velders ties record
Apr. 9, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs bullied the Broncos early and didn’t relent until the final match for their fifth blanking (7-0) of the season on Wednesday (April 9). Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis, winning five of its last six matches, entered Michael Bedrosian into the lineup for a singles triumph. Nick Velders tied the single season win record (16) in his victory at the Bulldog Tennis Courts.
Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad is 11-6 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
“I thought we came out with an intensity we needed,” Coach Hart said. “We knew we just needed to be ourselves. We wanted to protect home court, and we did. We are playing really well right now, and I’m proud of the guys for not being complacent. We have a quick turnaround with a huge match on Friday against Midland, and I’m expecting the same intensity.”
Joseph Melzer at No. 5, clinched the team win with a 6-1, 6-1 straight set victory over Ethan Mins. Melzer, a Gold Coast, Australia, native has won five matches this year and is 4-1 in the No. 5 slot. The other Australian, No. 3 Ben Chisholm, grabbed the first singles win over Alex Hafer (6-0, 6-0), leaving his opponent without a score.
Velders, a junior transfer, has made his presence known this season tying the all-time record with Jeremy Jank (2009-10) and Gabe Pohling (2016-17). The Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, native has a 16-1 singles showing and has won his last six matches. He defeated Nick Smeltzer, 6-1, 6-0, to tie the feat and will have two more chances to break it during the regular season.
The doubles teams looked to be in mint condition as the dynamo pairing of No. 2s Santiago Abadia and Chisholm led off with yet another triumph (6-1). The two have won 12 as a pair and Abadia 13 on the year. The Bogotá, Colombia, product will tie the single season doubles record with one more win in dual play.
No. 3s Grady Works and Manuel Rodriguez plus No. 1s Velders and Fuentes dropped their opponents 6-0.
Fuentes at No. 1, grabbed his seventh victory (6-1, 6-3) in 2025 and No. 4 Works (6-2, 6-4) joins Velders in double digit (10) wins. No. 6 Bedrosian (6-2, 6-1) defeats Ethan Zimmerman and is 3-0 this season.
Concordia (11-6, 3-1 GPAC) will vie for second place in the standings against Midland (7-9, 3-1 GPAC) on Friday morning (April 11). The Bulldogs and Warriors are set to face off at 8 a.m. CT at the Fremont Family YMCA.
Bulldogs fall shy of road upset; Abadia ties doubles record
Apr. 11, 2025
FREMONT, Neb. – The Bulldogs went toe-to-toe with Midland for the second spot in the conference and came up just short (3-4) on Friday morning (April 11). Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis team leaned on Ben Chisholm, who went unbeaten against his singles and doubles opponents. Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad is 11-7 overall and 3-2 in the GPAC.
“So proud of our group,” Head Coach Lisa Hart said. “We fought so hard and never gave up. We have a lot to still play for this season.”
Santiago Abadia tied the single season doubles wins record (14) in program history with his victory over the Warriors. The Bogotá, Colombia, native tied a record that has stood since the 1992-93 season, set by Tim Marshall and Glen Gutz. A Colegio Nueva York product, Abadia has 36 doubles triumphs in his career. He and Chisholm at No. 2s, defeated Andrew Hammer and Jaime De Diego with ease (6-1).
With the Bulldogs down 3-2, No. 2 Nick Velders battled it out with University of Nebraska-Omaha transfer Ben Starman splitting the first two sets (6-2, 2-6). Starman and Velders needed extra games to decide the highly contested match, but Midland’s Omaha, Neb., native won out (7-5).
In earlier matches, No. 4 Grady Works dropped Hammer in straight sets (6-3, 6-2). No. 3 Ben Chisholm was the first match to finish in singles, as the Australian bested De Diego (6-0, 6-4) early. The freshman, from Mercedes College, has double digit singles wins (10) in his first year as a Bulldog.
No. 6 Michael Bedrosian retired Daniel Liebig (4-5), collecting the third point for Concordia.
In singles, Hugo Fuentes (No.1) and Abadia (No. 5) also competed in singles. In doubles, No. 1s Fuentes and Velders dropped their match to Joren Stevens and Starman (3-6). No. 3s Works and Manuel Rodriguez fell to Liebig and Martin Cisneros (1-6).
Midland (8-9, 4-1 GPAC) leaned on experienced No. 1 Stevens and No. 2 Starman to defeat the Bulldogs. Stevens, out of Mol, Belgium, has gone unbeaten at No. 1 singles and doubles in conference play. The Warriors will finish out their season against Mount Marty in Fremont and have sealed a No. 2 seed in the GPAC tournament.
Concordia (11-7, 3-2 GPAC) will host Doane (6-10, 1-3 GPAC) for senior day on Wednesday (April 16) of next week. The celebration will begin before the first toss at 4 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs lost to the Tigers (1-6) in Crete, Neb., in 2024.
Two records fall on historic senior day shutout defeating Doane
Apr. 16, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – Two records fell on senior day in the 7-0 shutout win over Doane on Wednesday (April 16). Santiago Abadia (doubles) and Nick Velders (singles) captured single season win records as CUNE celebrated Manuel Rodriguez and Grady Works in the sunlight of the Bulldog Tennis Courts.
The program moved to 12-7 overall and 4-2 in the GPAC.
“It feels pretty good,” Rodriguez said. “Senior day, you always want to win. Getting a win with the other senior, it feels pretty good. We got the momentum and the win.”
With the Dawgs humming as a unit, No. 2 Velders clinched the fourth point over the visiting Tigers to defeat Diego Infante (7-5, 6-1). With the victory, the Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, native claimed the single-season record for singles wins (17) with more to chances to add on. Velders (17-2) surpasses Jeremy Jank (2009-10) and Gabe Pohling (2016-17) for the feat.
“Fall was really promising,” Velders said. “Starting here with Coach Hart and Coach Chevez, they gave me all the guidance that I needed to accomplish this. As a team, we work really hard, on and off the court. We just work hard and got it done.”
In doubles, seniors Rodriguez and Works jumped out on Doane’s Christian Jensen and Julio Avila (6-0) in a dominant display for the final time in Seward.
Rodriguez said, “His patience always makes me play better. He always says we are good. We are good. That helps a lot. In bad situations, when your partner is calm, it helps a lot.”
No. 2s Abadia and Ben Chisholm have been a pair that has been hard to break, and versus the Tigers was no different in the 6-2 doubles point winner. Abadia, out of Bogotá, Columbia, became the new single-season doubles win leader (15) with the triumph. The Colegio Nueva York product passed Tim Marshall and Glen Gutz in a record that has stood since the 1992-93 season.
No. 6 Michael Bedrosian took the first singles victory over Tanner Adams (7-6 (5), 6-1). No. 3 Works kept the Bulldogs rolling against Doane’s Andre Hartman (6-2, 6-3), going unbeaten on senior day.
After the clinch, No. 1 Hugo Fuentes ran through Jose Purizaca (6-3, 6-3), playing well through the sets. No. 4 Chisholm defeated Elliot Dassel in the only three-set bout (6-2, 3-6, 6-1), putting a stamp on the win in the final round. No. 5 Abadia clinched the match sweep against Julio Avila barely giving up a game in the 6-1, 6-0 drubbing.
Concordia (12-7, 4-2 GPAC) will wait for the final GPAC standings to be finished as the last match of the conference is on Friday (April 18).
Men's tennis places four team members on NAIA Scholar-Athlete list
Apr. 23, 2025
2024-25 NAIA Spring Sport Scholar-Athlete List
SEWARD, Neb. – Four Bulldogs from the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis program were named to the list of 2024-25 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes released on Wednesday (April 23). The honor roll included seniors Manuel Rodriguez and Grady Works and sophomores Michael Bedrosian and Mitch Krumm. Rodriguez and Works are repeat Scholar-Athlete award winners.
In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.
Concordia University, Nebraska ranks as the NAIA’s all-time leader in number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 2,526 entering the 2024-25 academic year. The school record for number of Scholar-Athletes in one academic year is 226 achieved in 2019-20. Concordia has been a regular national leader for both Scholar-Athletes and Scholar-Teams.
2024-25 Concordia Men’s Tennis Scholar-Athletes
· Michael Bedrosian (Fowler, Calif.)
· Mitch Krumm (Wichita, Kan.)
· Manuel Rodriguez (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain)
· Grady Works (Lincoln, Neb.)