LINCOLN, Neb. – None of the wins have come easy for the Concordia University men’s tennis team, which got comfortable this weekend inside Genesis Health Club in Lincoln. The Bulldogs earned a 5-4 victory over Bethel College (Kan.) on Friday (Feb. 22) before taking a decision by the same score over Bethany College (Kan.) on Saturday.
The weekend provided David DeSimone his first opportunity to see his teams in action. The Kalamazoo College alum was named Concordia’s head men’s and women’s tennis coach on Monday. Graduate assistant Nikita Kostikov is also on staff. The Bulldogs are 3-1 overall this season.
Concordia emerged with victories by taking four of six singles matches over both Bethel and Bethany. Sophomore Jeremy Berryman and senior Conner Works put together 2-0 weekends in singles matches. Berryman held down the No. 4 spot in the lineup while Works played at Nos. 5 and 6. Senior Thomas Greeff at No. 1 and junior Luke Zoller at No. 2 were additional contributors to Friday’s win. In Saturday’s victory, freshmen Isaac Howes at No. 3 and Jack Kitson at No. 6 also picked up wins.
In doubles, the Bulldogs did just enough. At the No. 2 spot, the combo of Howes and Kitson earned an 8-2 victory over their counterparts from Bethel. In the matchup with Bethany, Joseph Bindl and Greeff were fortunate to collect a win via forfeit at the No. 3 position.
Concordia opened up the 2019 spring season two weeks earlier with a 5-4 win over Grand View University (Iowa) and a 7-2 loss at Central College (Iowa).
The campaign will continue next Friday and Saturday (March 1-2) with matches at Sterling College (Kan.) and at Ottawa University (Kan.).