LINCOLN, Neb. – A solid start to the 2017-18 season continued on Saturday (Feb. 10) with the opening of the spring campaign for the Concordia University women’s tennis team. Despite the absence of senior standout Annie Horn, the Bulldogs managed to eke out a 5-4 victory over Grand View University in a match played at Genesis Health Club in Lincoln, Neb.
Fourth-year head coach Joel Reckewey’s squad also captured fall wins over Kansas Wesleyan University and Nebraska Wesleyan. Concordia has pushed its overall record to 3-1.
“I’m proud of the way we competed,” Reckewey said. “They never gave up and they found a way to win. These are the types of close wins that are important for boosting our confidence so we will be even stronger in the tough matches to come this season.”
The back half of the lineup did much of the heavy lifting. The Bulldogs picked up wins at the Nos. 4 through 6 singles spots courtesy of Alison Ebel, Kirsten Wagner and Kayla Smock, respectively. Ebel and Katelinn Wurm combined for an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles and Smock and Allison Marshall collaborated on an 8-1 rout at the No. 3 doubles spot. They helped drop the Vikings to 1-2 overall.
When Horn returns, the rest of the lineup will slide back in place. Horn played at either No. 1 or 2 singles and at No. 1 doubles during three fall matches.
The Bulldogs will make their first on-campus appearance of 2018 next Friday (Feb. 16) when Baker University visits the Fieldhouse. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. CT.