SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Tennis went almost perfect (6-1) in the unseating of Wartburg College (Iowa) on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 6). Fifth seed singles Alexa Richert clinched the overall win in the sweep of singles at the Bulldog Tennis Courts.
The season opener finished as a success in the eyes of Head Coach Lisa Hart.
“Very proud of the way our team responded after losing the doubles point,” Coach Hart said. “We are very excited about our new players, although they didn’t see much action in the lineup today, they will enhance our program from a culture standpoint - we are looking forward to the GPAC individual championships next week at Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln.”
After falling just shy of the opening doubles point, the Bulldogs would tear through the Knights in individual play.
No. 4 Ishane Derman powered through Kaitlyn Olson (6-1, 6-2) to begin the season starting route. Not far behind, Chakira Derman at No. 2, won in straight sets (6-1, 6-2) over Brooke Bloom to take the points lead.
No. 1 Mariana Molano defeated Tori Johnson (6-2, 6-4), putting the Dawgs one point away from taking the dual win. With the triumph, the Bogotá, Colombia, native has 39 career dual singles wins.
Richert earned the fourth and winning point at No. 5 by besting Abi Peyman, 6-3, 6-2. The high-energy Richert now has a three-match singles win streak from last season.
No. 3 Alana Lopez Pagan took down Lily Schreckengast (7-5, 6-3), knocking down the second set win with assertion. Niana Milic at No. 6, completed the sweep, winning 6-2, 7-6, over Riley McClellan. Lopez Pagan and Molano tag-teamed for a doubles win (6-2) at No. 1s
Jacey Powell made her debut in the Concordia lineup at No. 3s with Richert.
The Bulldogs (1-0) will compete in the GPAC Fall individual tennis tournament on Sept. 12-13 at the Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln, Neb., at 9 a.m. CT.