SEWARD, Neb. – In dipping outside of conference play for one final time this regular season, the Concordia University Women’s Tennis team got back into the win column. The Bulldogs came through in two crucial singles tiebreakers in the process of defeating Grand View University (Iowa), 5-2, on Wednesday (April 12). The match was contested inside the Fieldhouse in order to avoid blustery conditions outdoors.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad improved to 9-7 overall thanks to its first win in April. Concordia had started the month with back-to-back GPAC losses to Morningside and Doane.
“Hopefully this is a confidence booster for us,” Long said. “Up and down the lineup, I was happy with the performance. Grand View has beaten some good teams. We were able to pull out some close matches and that only helps us moving forward. You have to learn how to win those types of matches.”
This was an impressive win for the Bulldogs, especially considering Grand View (7-5) owns wins over College of Saint Mary, Doane, Morningside and Northwestern. The team outcome essentially came down to the Nos. 1 and 3 singles positions. At No. 1, Concordia’s Mariana Molano shook off a defeat in the second set and edged Melanie Ortega, 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (9). At No. 3, Alana Lopez Pagan rebounded after dropping the first set and won, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (8). Other singles winners for the Bulldogs were Ella Dean at No. 4 and Brooke Hosick at No. 6.
Prior to singles, Concordia gained the advantage by triumphing at the Nos. 2 and 3 spots. The combo of Dean and Tara Ferrel won at No. 2, 6-3, and the duo of Molano and Gabrielle Heiser was victorious at No. 3, 6-1. The Vikings managed to win at No. 1, 6-2, while up against Tessa Blough and Lopez Pagan.
Grand View competes as a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference and is located in Des Moines. Head Coach Austin Grundy is in his sixth season leading the program.
A GPAC doubleheader (men and women) will take place on Thursday inside the Walz Fieldhouse as the Bulldogs will host Mount Marty. The men’s match is set to get underway at 1 p.m. CT with the women to follow. The Lancers sport records of 1-9 (0-4 GPAC) on the men’s side and 0-7 (0-3 GPAC) on the women’s side. In between the two matches on Thursday, Concordia will honor its seniors.
A GPAC doubleheader (men and women) will take place on Thursday inside the Walz Fieldhouse as the Bulldogs will host Mount Marty. The men’s match is set to get underway at 1 p.m. CT with the women to follow. The Lancers sport records of 1-9 (0-4 GPAC) on the men’s side and 0-7 (0-3 GPAC) on the women’s side. In between the two matches on Thursday, Concordia will honor its seniors.