SEWARD, Neb. – Capable of competing with any team in the conference, the Concordia University women’s tennis team will up open this weekend’s GPAC tournament believing it has a legitimate shot to play in Saturday’s championship match. The fifth-seeded Bulldogs will first have to get past fourth-seeded Doane in a quarterfinal match set for an 11:30 a.m. first serve at the Fremont High School Tennis Complex in Fremont, Neb.
Fourth-year head coach Joel Reckewey’s squad completed the regular season at 12-9 (3-4 GPAC) after blanking Mount Marty, 9-0, last week. While Concordia settled for fifth place, it could have easily finished much higher. Three of its four GPAC losses came by 5-4 decisions and the other was a 6-3 defeat at the hands of GPAC co-champion Hastings.
This will be the final push for seniors such as Annie Horn and Alison Ebel, regulars in the lineup over their four-year careers. Horn has recorded 40 singles victories during her career as a Bulldog. Horn paces this year’s squad with a 12-7 overall singles record, including 5-2 versus GPAC opponents. Ebel is 4-2 against conference foes while playing mostly at the No. 5 spot. The combo of Ebel and Kayla Smock has gone 5-1 versus the GPAC in doubles.
In this season’s 5-4 loss at Doane, the Bulldogs captured wins at the Nos. 1, 4 and 5 singles spots and at No. 3 doubles. The winner between Concordia and Doane will advance and take on top-seeded Midland in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Saturday’s championship match will begin at 10 a.m.
2018 GPAC Women’s Tennis Tournament
Friday, May 4
QUARTERFINALS
No. 4 Doane vs. No. 5 Concordia, 11:30 a.m.
No. 3 College of Saint Mary vs. No. 6 Northwestern, 11:30 a.m.
SEMIFINALS
No. 1 Midland vs. No. 4/5 Winner, 4:30 p.m.
No. 2 Hastings vs. No. 3/6 Winner, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 5
CHAMPIONSHIP
10 a.m.