SEWARD, Neb. – Following a hiatus in the schedule, the Concordia University Women’s Tennis teams retuned to the courts on Tuesday (March 15) and fell just short in a nonconference home matchup with Sterling College (Kan.). The Warriors emerged from the Bulldog Tennis Courts with a 5-2 victory in a contest that finished up underneath the lights. The evening marked the first time Concordia had played an outdoor home match this spring.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad had won its most recent outing – a 7-0 decision over Bethany College (Kan.) on Feb. 26. The Bulldogs own a record of 2-4 overall.
“Sofia (Morales) and Megan (Hakes) played pretty well today,” Long said. “It was a tough loss in general. All the matches we lost were pretty close scores. The two most lopsided matches in singles were the two that we won, so we definitely had opportunities to win – just not today. It’s a new day tomorrow. We’ll get back at it.”
Close victories for Sterling at No. 1 doubles (7-5), No. 3 singles (7-6, 6-4) and No. 6 singles (7-6, 3-6, 1-0) swung the match in favor of the visitors. The Warriors went up a point after doubles while also winning convincingly, 6-0, at No. 2 doubles. At the No. 3 position, the Concordia duo of Brooke Hosick and Julia Phillips collaborated on a 6-4 win.
In singles, Morles triumphed at the No. 1 spot, 6-3, 6-2, while Hakes came away with a 6-1, 6-3, win at No. 5 to lead the Bulldogs. The rest of the Concordia singles lineup featured Tara Ferrel at No. 2, Tessa Blough at No. 3, Hosick at No. 4 and Kylie Freudenburg at No. 6. Five Bulldogs competed in both doubles and singles on Tuesday.
Sterling bumped its overall record up to 2-3 after having also defeated Hastings, 4-3, on March 4. Prior to that match, the Warriors were beaten by Morningside, Midland and NCAA Division II Fort Hays State University (Kan.).
The Bulldogs will turn around and host Bethel College (Kan.) (2-4) at 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday. Concordia will attempt to avenge its 4-3 loss from last season at the hands of the Threshers, who also compete as a member of the KCAC.