Both tennis programs close out road trip with victories

The Concordia University, Nebraska, men's and women's tennis teams closed out a weekend road trip to St. Louis, Mo. and Lebanon, Ill. with victories on Saturday, March 31. 

The men's team finished the Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT) with a 7-2 win over Concordia Seminary, Indiana in St. Louis.  The women's team, meanwhile, defeated McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill. by the score of 5-4. 

The men's team concluded the CIT Tournament with a 2-1 record and a 5-5 mark on the season, while the women's team moved to 4-4 following their win.  

Senior Jeremy Jank (Hastings, Neb.) led the charge for the men's team, claiming a 6-2, 6-0 win at the number one singles position over Jeff Smith.   Sophomore Nathan Wingfield (Greendale, Wis.) matched Jank's efforts with a 6-2, 6-0 win in the No. 3 singles slot over Tim Eden.  

Earlier the tandem of Wingfield and Jank claimed the second doubles point, 8-5, over Tim Meyer and Justin Sponaugle. 

For the women's team it was junior Makaela Barz (San Antonio, Texas) and freshman Grace Hollenbeck (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) anchoring the victory.  Barz and Hollenback nabbed an 8-2 win at the second doubles slot over Alexandria Peach and Erick Smith-Thomas. 

Later in singles play, Barz earned a 6-1, 6-3 win over Melanie Young at the No. 5 spot.  Hollenbeck, meanwhile, needed a late rally to down Smith-Thomas 1-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-5).

The Bulldogs' men's team returns to action on Wednesday, April 11 as Concordia travels to Omaha, Neb. to take on University of Nebraska, Omaha at 4 p.m.

Concordia's women's team and the men's squad will host Midland University on Thursday, April 12 in a Great Plains Conference matchup at 4:30 p.m.