LINCOLN, Neb. – In a match that featured three third-set tiebreakers, the Concordia University men’s tennis team came up just short of victory while playing on the campus of Nebraska Wesleyan. The host Prairie Wolves earned a 5-4 win on Thursday evening.
Third-year head coach Joel Reckewey’s squad will enter its first conference match next week with an overall record of 5-8. Said Reckewey, “We fought to the end. This match will have us well prepared for upcoming conference matches.”
The Bulldogs did their best to overcome a 2-1 deficit after doubles. Of the three-set tiebreakers, Concordia claimed wins in two of them with No. 2 Javier Moreno and No. 5 Lucas Zoller outlasting their opponents from Nebraska Wesleyan (2-10). Gabe Poling also triumphed at the No. 4 singles spot, 6-0, 6-2. Poling carries an impressive 10-2 singles record on the season.
The lone Bulldog victory in doubles was produced by the No. 1 combo of Thomas Greeff and Zoller. They won by a score of 8-5. As part of the excruciatingly close contest, the duo of Moreno and Poling fell, 8-7 (7-5), at No. 2. At the No. 6 singles slot, Josh Miller was defeated, 5-7, 6-2, 10-5.
Concordia will be back in action on April 6 when Doane (4-6) visits Seward in what will be the conference opener for the Bulldogs. Concordia placed fifth in the GPAC in 2016.