ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Bulldogs ran into a tough challenge on Saturday (March 7), falling to Missouri Baptist University, 0-4, at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center. Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Tennis fell in the doubles point and three singles to clinch the dual.
Head Coach Lisa Hart and the Dawgs drop to 8-4 overall.
“I am really proud of the effort the team put out today,” Coach Hart said. “We came out with a lot of fight. Losing can turn out to be productive and make us a better team if we learn from it. We want to be at our best going into GPAC play. We are excited to start conference soon.”
The Spartans gained early momentum by sweeping the doubles matches. At No. 1, Mariana Molano and Ishane Derman dropped a 2-6 decision to Yvonne Shannon and Melissa Jangarasheva. Concordia followed with another 2-6 loss at No. 2 doubles as Lucia Rubio and Mariana Azevedo defeated Chakira Derman and Alana Lopez Pagan. MBU completed the sweep at No. 3 doubles where Bissola Lassissi and Jocelynn Carmody topped Alexa Richert and Jacey Powell, 2-6.
In singles play, Concordia fought to gain traction, but the Spartans secured the three points needed to finish the dual. Chakira Derman fell to Shannon, 2-6, 2-6, at No. 2 singles, while Lopez Pagan dropped a 1-6, 2-6 decision to Carmody at the No. 3 spot. Missouri Baptist clinched the match at No. 6 singles where Nina Milic was defeated by Natalie Haug, 1-6, 1-6.
Despite the final score, several Bulldogs were locked in competitive matches when play was finished. At No. 1 singles, Molano had begun her second set tied 1-1 after narrowly dropping the first set, 4-6. Ishane Derman was deep in the second set at No. 4 singles, trailing 5-7, 4-5, while Richert had rallied after losing the opening set and held a third-set lead, 3-6, 6-4, 3-1, at No. 5 singles when the match was stopped.
Concordia (8-4) will face Seward County Community College (0-4) on Thursday (March 19). The Bulldogs will first toss at 12 p.m. CT at the Bulldog Tennis Courts.