SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. – On Saturday (April 26), the third-seeded Bulldogs claimed their first GPAC tournament title in the history of the program. Nina Milic clinched the fourth and final point in a three-set bout to defeat the first-seeded Mustangs (4-2). Concordia University, Nebraska's Women’s Tennis team earned its first-ever bid to the NAIA national tournament.
Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad climbs to 17-4 overall after the three victories at the 2025 conference tournament.
“So incredibly proud of the resilience and fight our team showed today,” Coach Hart said. “They’ve worked so hard all season and have bought into everything we have asked. We will take a few days off to recover and focus on school, and then we will get back to work in preparation for nationals! I’m extremely proud of every single member of our team. Everyone has bought into their role on the team, stayed in the moment, and has kept positive through the entire season!”
No. 6 Milic battled in a three-set comeback after falling in the first set (3-6). The freshman, out of Belgrade, Serbia, dominated Sophia Guntren in the final two sets (6-2, 6-2). Fighting for playing time, Milic has totaled a 6-4 singles showing in her first year as a Bulldog.
On court three, Alana Lopez Pagan defeated Kailee Bailey in straight sets (6-4, 7-6) shutting down the Mustang (7-3) in the second-set tiebreaker. The Forney, Texas, native has produced a 13-4 record as a junior.
No. 2 Chakira Derman conducted an almost flawless performance over Brooke Marshall (6-0, 6-3) in the first singles match to finish.
In doubles, No. 2s Derman and Lopez Pagan combined for a 6-3 triumph and are on a four-match win streak (12-4) as a pair. After No. 1s dropped their set, No. 3s Tessa Blough and Alexa Richert came in clutch to win the first point of the championship clash.
Richert went unfinished but posted a (3-6, 6-6) score against Lidia Suarez on court five.
No. 1 Mariana Molano and No. 4 Ishane Derman competed in singles in South Sioux City.
Concordia (17-4) will make its first trip as a team to the NAIA Women’s Tennis National Championships in Mobile, Ala. The postseason tournament is from May 13-17 at the Mobile Tennis Center.