SEWARD, Neb. – GPAC play continues this week as the Concordia University Women’s Tennis team aims to shake off Saturday’s home loss to Morningside. The Bulldogs are readying to host rival Doane on Tuesday with first serve slated for 4:30 p.m. CT from the Bulldog Tennis Courts. Head Coach Cam Long’s squad picked up a 5-2 nonconference victory last week over Baker University (Kan.) before the 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Mustangs. Concordia will enter the week at 8-6 overall (1-1 GPAC) with the one GPAC victory coming over Hastings.
This Week
Tuesday, April 4 vs. Doane (6-10, 2-0 GPAC), 4:30 p.m.
--Location: Bulldog Tennis Courts (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs went 5-1 in March with the only defeat being a 4-3 loss to Bethany College (Kan.). The wins came over Sterling College (Kan.), 7-0, Kansas Wesleyan University, 7-0, Central College (Iowa), 5-4, Hastings, 7-0 and Baker, 5-2. A tough slate in February appears to have sharpened Concordia, which played two strong JUCOs and No. 23 William Woods University (Mo.) earlier this spring. Among GPAC teams, the Bulldogs are currently ranked fifth behind Midland, Morningside, Doane and College of Saint Mary.
· In action with Baker, Concordia took four singles matches and two doubles contests on its way to victory. Singles winners were Mariana Molano at No. 1, Ella Dean at No. 4, Brooke Hosick at No. 5 and Gabrielle Heiser at No. 6. The doubles victors were Molano and Tara Ferrel at No. 2 and Dean and Heiser at No. 3. Positive results were harder to come by versus Morningside, but Tessa Blough managed to win at both No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles. Blough paired with Alana Lopez Pagan in doubles. Compelling drama came at No. 1 doubles as Molano was upset by Morningside’s Jil Hellerforth, 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (9).
· Through 14 matches, the Bulldogs have gone a combined 43-38 in singles and 26-15 in doubles play. At the top of the lineup, Molano saw her singles win streak ended at five. However, she continues to lead the team in singles wins with a 9-5 mark in dual meets. Four of her teammates have exactly five singles wins: Dean (5-3), Lopez Pagan (5-6), Blough (5-7) and Hosick (5-7). In doubles, Dean and Heiser have been near perfect with a 5-1 record as partners.
· The hope is to turn around last season’s 6-1 loss suffered at Doane. In the series, the Tigers have won three in a row. The most recent Concordia victory over Doane occurred in 2019 by a 9-0 score. That season was one of the best in program history as the Bulldogs finished with a school record 15 wins overall and reached the GPAC tournament final. The Tigers are 6-10 but have played a rigorous schedule. They defeated Northwestern, 6-1, to close out the month of March.
Next week
A busy stretch is coming up with Concordia slated to play April 12, 13 and 15 against the likes of Grand View, Mount Marty and Midland, respectively. As part of the home matches versus Mount Marty on April 13, the Bulldogs will honor senior Tara Ferrel.