LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Bulldogs showed complete mastery in their two-match day at the Genesis Health Club on Sunday (Feb. 22). Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Tennis rattled off team wins versus the University of Saint Mary (Kan.), 4-1, and Baker University (Kan.), 4-1 in Lawrence, Kan. With the two wins, No. 1 Mariana Molano became the singles career win leader (44) for the program.
Head Coach Lisa Hart and the returning national tournament squad have moved their season record to 7-1, bringing the win streak to five.
“I am extremely proud of how our women’s team battled back after the losing the doubles point against University of Saint Mary,” Coach Lisa Hart said. “They executed their individual game plans extremely well in singles. Against Baker, we were more relaxed and took control from the beginning. We will take a couple of days off and get back to work. Looking forward to two more opportunities next weekend.”
Spending the majority of her time at Concordia as the top Dawg, Molano has surpassed a benchmark that has been set since the 2008-11 career of Taylor Cook (43 wins). The Columbian has an overall record of 44-18 with all but seven matches (7-0 at No. 2) at No. 1.
A senior, Molano defeated the Spires Shannon Finn, 6-2, 6-3, and the Wildcats’ Arizbe Espinosa, 6-2, 5-7 (10-7) to become the top woman in the program’s existence.
No. 4 Alexa Richert clinched both match wins over Saint Mary and Baker. The Gillette, Wyo., native defeated USM’s Rowen Wiemers, 6-1, 6-2, and BU’s Emma Cain, 6-0, 6-0 unblemished. Richert has a 4-2 record in singles play this season and 28 wins in her career.
Ishane Derman completed a 3-0 outing to spur on the Dawgs in three separate matches (two doubles). Ishane outworked the Spires’ Monserrat Guerrero, 6-2, 6-2 in straight sets. The Lomé, Africa, Derman paired with Molano (6-2) to clinch the doubles points versus the Wildcats and Jacey Powell (6-0) to best USM.
No. 4 Nina Milic won in straight sets (6-1, 6-1) over Saint Mary’s Arsys Rojas.
Concordia (7-1) will compete against a tough McPherson College (0-3) on Friday (Feb. 27). The match will be played at a neutral site at the Fremont YMCA with the first toss at 11 a.m. CT.