SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia will compete in uncharted waters after making the NAIA national championship tournament via the program’s first GPAC tournament championship. Fourteen teams earned automatic bids (10 at-large), including the Bulldogs. The field includes 24 teams that will ride to Mobile, Ala., from May 13-17 and take the courts at Mobile Tennis Center.
2025 UTR Sports NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship
May 13-17 | Mobile Tennis Center (Mobile, Ala.) | Bracket
Round 1: Tuesday, May 13 vs. No. 11 Marian (14-8), 9 a.m. CT
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Round 2: Wednesday, May 14 vs. No. 6 Loyola (16-5), 9 a.m. CT
Looking to bounce back after their two conference losses, Concordia earned a No. 3 seed in the postseason GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs defeated sixth-seeded College of Saint Mary (4-0) in the opening round. With a mountain to climb, Concordia avenged losses to second-seeded Doane (4-1) and first-seeded Morningside (4-2) to claim their inaugural championship. After claiming three runner up finishes (2008, 2011 and 2019), the Bulldogs punch through the final barrier on their way to Mobile.
Head Coach Lisa Hart and company have taken 17 wins, the most in a single season in the program, and have only given up four losses. The other two falls came via national tournament qualifier McPherson College (Kan.), 2-5, and NCAA Division 2’s Fort Hays State University (Kan.), 2-5. After defeating Doane, Concordia surpassed old program best from the 2018-19 season (15 wins). Ishane Derman holds the single season singles win record (18) in her freshman season. With her win against Morningside, Alexa Richert has tied the single season doubles win record (15) by Ella Dean (2022-23).
The season stats are greatly in favor of the Bulldogs, having a 95-25 singles record and a 42-19 doubles showing. In singles, the top five slots have double-digit wins with Ishane (18), Chakira Derman (17), Richert (14), Mariana Molano (14) and Alana Lopez Pagan (13). The tag teams of Tessa Blough and Richert (14) plus Lopez Pagan and Chakira (12) have also reached double-figure triumphs as pairs. Nina Milic (six) and Blough (two) have switched at the No. 6 position and No. 1s Molano and Ishane have won eight sets in dual play.
Big match wins came from doubles in the semifinals and finals of the GPAC tournament. Chakira and Richert went 2-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles. Lopez Pagan went 3-0 in doubles as well, but went unfinished in the first two matches before taking an immeasurable point against the Mustangs (6-4, 7-6 (3)). Milic finished off the home squad for the championship and clinched the fourth and final point (3-6, 6-2, 6-2).
Five teams will arrive at the tennis national championship for the first time in their program’s history, including Concordia, Marian University (Ind.), Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Ottawa University (Ariz.) and Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas). With a first-round matchup with the Knights, the Bulldogs and their counterparts will have a chance to not only make the tournament but garner their first win in the coveted postseason tournament.
Opponents
With three wins against ranked opponents this season, Marian has totaled a 14-8 overall record, receiving an at-large bid. The Knights defeated a then-ranked No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University (5-2), No. 19 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), 4-3, and Holy Cross College (Ind.), 4-2. Marian went 7-1 out of the Crossroads League in conference play, losing to Bethel University (Ind.), 3-4. Yasmin Imamniyazova has played No. 1 for the Knights.
The round one winner is scheduled to compete against No. 6 seed Loyola University New Orleans (La.), as it has a bye in opening play. The Wolf Pack has a 16-5 record and was conference champion in the Southern States Athletic tournament. Having beaten seven ranked foes, the experienced Loyola bested a then-ranked No. 24 SCAD Atlanta (Ga.), 4-0, No. 14 St. Thomas (Fla.), 4-2, No. 8 SCAD Savannah (Ga.), 4-0, Xavier University of Louisiana, 5-2, No. 20 Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), 4-1, Middle Georgia State University, 4-1, and William Carey University (Miss.), 4-2. Lucy Carpenter leads the Wolf Pack at No. 1 singles and a 15-3 record.