FREMONT, Neb. – With a chance for Concordia to take a shorter trip to face Baker University (Kan.), the Bulldogs traveled to the Fremont Family YMCA on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 10). The men were winless coming into the dual but found ways to deliver a victory (5-2) over the Wildcats for their first win of the season. All the doubles matches were taken by the blue and white, as Manuel Rodriguez clinched the triumph in his match at No. 5.
Rodriguez and company are now 1-4 overall on the season. Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on seeing hard work come to fruition and how proud she was to see the energy of the guys throughout the competition.
“Our men have been working so hard and it is great to see it pay off today with a win. I loved the energy and passion our entire team competed with. I’m proud of our guys to keep pushing until we got the result we wanted.”
Santi Abadia and Rodriguez steamrolled Fabian Martinez and River Flaska in a 6-0 doubles set at No. 2s. Hugo Fuentes and Works at No. 1s, started their day with a 6-2 set victory defeating Juan Avila and Christ, taking their first as a pair.
With their No. 6 singles open, the Bulldogs launched out to a 2-0 lead early in the contest. Michael Bedrosian at No. 4, turned on the night light for Fabian Martinez, only surrendering one game in a 6-0, 6-1 route. The freshman out of Fowler, Calif., has a 2-3 singles dual record in his opening year. Up 3-0, Rodriguez captured the season's first prevalence. The Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, native secured the 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Jack Forrest in the clincher.
Abadia followed suit at No. 3, taking the first back breaking set (7-6) and wore down River in the second, (6-1) acquiring the win in straight sets.
Baker has lost seven consecutive matches, setting their record at 1-7 in its 2023-24 campaign. They will face the GPAC’s Hastings tomorrow (Feb. 11) to seek its first team victory.
Concordia (1-4) will host their first home match against Tabor College (1-1) on Saturday (Feb. 17). The Bulldogs and Bluejays will step on the courts in Seward, Neb. at noon CT.