SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. – The Bulldogs returned to form steamrolling Northwestern (6-1) in the conference collision on Saturday (April 5). Ishane Derman and Mariana Molano won both matches with a huge momentum triumph to clinch doubles. Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Tennis and the Red Raiders relocated to the First Serve Tennis Center to ensure the two teams competed amid impending weather.
Head Coach Lisa Hart and the Dawgs reach 12 wins (12-2 overall) and 3-1 in the conference. They have posted a 38-5 point total over their opponents in the last six matches.
“Proud of our team today,” Coach Hart said. “They continue to take care of business - doing a great job controlling the things they have control over.”
Alana Lopez Pagan at No. 3, clinched the team victory and the ever important fourth team point. The Forney, Texas, native delivered a 6-3, 6-1 win over Ainslie Robinson. She joins three other Bulldogs in double digit singles wins: Chakira (12), Ishane Derman (12), Molano (11) and Lopez Pagan (10).
On court two, Chakira shut out Julia VandenBerg, 6-0, 6-0, in her first blanking this season. No.1 Molano doused her opponent with a 6-2, 6-2 straight set victory. Chakira is 12-2 in the second slot and Molano is 11-3 at one.
Following her first collegiate dual singles loss, No. 4 Ishane redeemed herself, getting back to her winning ways with a 6-1, 6-2 match over Hannah Beckloff. On court five, Alexa Richert defeated Emily Westenberg, 6-2, 6-1, to finish out the dominant 6-1 team win.
Previous to singles play, No. 3s Tessa Blough and Alexa Richert jumped out ahead of Hannah Beckloff and Alloree Else to seize their ninth win (6-1) on the season (five straight). After dropping a set at No. 2s, Mariana Molano and Ishane Derman, at No. 1, battled down to the wire and clinched the doubles point. 7-6 (5). The pair have won seven on the year and six of their last seven.
Concordia (12-2, 3-1 GPAC) will face off against an in-state foe, Hastings (7-9, 2-2 GPAC), on Wednesday in Seward. The Broncos and Bulldogs will start doubles play at 11 a.m. CT at the Bulldog Tennis Courts. CUNE has had the upper hand in the last four matchups, falling last in 2019.