LINCOLN, Neb. – Concordia entered GPAC play on Tuesday (Mar. 5) taking on Mount Marty as its first conference challenger. The Bulldogs came out aggressive and shutout the Lancers in a 7-0 victory. The two squads competed at the Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln, Neb., after both teams previously faced Iowa Central Community College. Brooke Hosick had to slide into a starting role and defeated her opponent in two sets without giving up a game.
CUNE moves their overall record up to 6-4 and begins conference play, 1-0, after the win. Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on the rising confidence of her players and what it means to start out the conference with a triumph.
“It was great to start out conference play with a win. It helps get the ball rolling and gives helps us moving forward. We really got things going early and our confidence is growing with each dual. Brooke (Hosick) was not scheduled to play but stepped in and delivered for us. I’m really proud of the girls and we will relish this upcoming break after competing in four matches the past six days.”
With Mount Marty having a couple of players out, the Bulldogs were ahead in the doubles matches before the games started. Concordia put on a master clinic as No. 1s Mariana Molano and Alana Lopez-Pagan took the doubles point by a 6-1 set. No. 2s Chakira Derman and Lauren Gottberg got their brooms out for a doubles sweep (6-2) over Kayla Marsh and Alessandra Lopez.
Hosick made her match look like a breeze, taking a over the No. 4 slot in a 6-0, 6-0 performance over Lopez. No. 1 Molano continued the team's success and delivered a 6-2, 6-0 straight set victory over Suri Gomez.
With the team dual already won in favor of the Dawgs, No. 2 Lopez-Pagan continued to push her singles and doubles win streak to four. The sophomore out of Forney, Texas gave up three games before finding her 12th in the 6-1, 6-2 win in straights.
Alexa Richert found herself in a tiebreaker battle after two sets (6-1, 4-6) and was able to defeat Marsh in the final (10-5).
Mount Marty moves under .500 (2-3) with two losses coming from the Bulldogs. They will stay in GPAC play against Morningside on Mar. 20, receiving a break like many others.
Concordia (6-4) will have a needed 11-day break before continuing against Midland (5-2) on Saturday (Mar. 16) in a non-conference dual. The match is set to start at 11 a.m. CT at the Fremont Family YMCA. The Warriors were the GPAC champions from last season.