Concordia falls to NCAA D-II Emporia State

By Jacob Knabel on Mar. 20, 2021 in Women's Tennis

SEWARD, Neb. – In a major home test on Saturday (March 20), the Concordia University Women’s Tennis team dropped all singles and doubles matches while up against NCAA Division II Emporia State University (Kan.). It marked the second time during the 2020-21 season that the Bulldogs have played an NCAA D-II opponent.

Head Coach David DeSimone’s squad has been tripped up in four-straight matches since the 3-0 start. Concordia is now 3-4 overall. Said DeSimone, “It was good to see us implementing many of the things we have been working on recently. We were playing more aggressively when we could. Now it just comes down to execution.”

Based upon the scores, Claudia Miranda Viera engaged in the most competitive match of the day. She fell by a score of 6-2, 6-3, at No. 2 singles. For the most part, the Hornets dominated while surrendering 16 games in singles action. At the top of the lineup, Emporia State’s Karen Santiago defeated Sofia Morales, 6-2, 6-0.

In doubles, the Hornets took all six games at the Nos. 1 and 3 positions. Morales and Luisa Esquivel put up more of a fight at No. 2, where the final score ended at 6-2.

Emporia State is 3-0 with each of those wins coming over NAIA opponents (including Tabor College and Ottawa University). The Hornets compete as part of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

Conference play will open up next Saturday (March 27) when the Bulldogs will host Morningside (4-3, 0-0 GPAC). First serve is set for 1 p.m. CT from the Bulldog Tennis Courts. In the latest conference ratings, Concordia checked in at No. 4, just behind the third-ranked Mustangs.