PELLA, Iowa – With two matches scheduled in Pella, Iowa, the Bulldogs competed against Quincy University (Ill.) and Central College on Saturday (Feb. 22). Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis defeated the Dutch (5-2) but lost to the Hawks (1-6). Nick Velders continues to dominate singles as he went 3-0 this week.
Head Coach Lisa Hart and company are 3-4 overall and continue to get better with every match.
“Proud of this team’s fight,” said Coach Hart. “After losing the first match against Quincy, they could have had a bad attitude and let the loss affect the next one. They didn’t. These guys rose to the occasion and were able to get the four points we needed after playing three duals in two days. That takes guts and they did it well. While they have earned a break, we will get prepared for Baker this coming Saturday.”
No. 6 Michael Bedrosian entered the singles lineup and sliced Gavin Jablonski in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) to clinch the game winner over Central.
Leading up to the fourth point, No. 3 Ben Chisholm gained momentum while blasting Jack Briggs (6-1, 6-2). Velders took the No. 1 slot versus Central and continued his reign only giving up one game (6-0, 6-1) in his second match thrashing. He remains unbeaten in dual singles play (6-0).
Previous to the singles wins, Concordia took out their brooms and swept through the Dutch in doubles play. No. 2s Chisholm and Abadia won with ease (6-2) and No. 3s Joseph Melzer and Grady Works clinched the doubles draw after a 7-6 (6) battle. Hugo Fuentes and Manuel Rodriguez at No. 1s, completed the winning spurt with a 6-4 set.
Melzer, hailing from Gold Coast, Australia, kept the good times rolling but not without a fight from Alex Slaymaker. The transfer, via Ashland University, won in two twin sets which end at 7-6 (4).
No. 2 Velders had a heck of a day defeating Quincy’s Joseph Restrepo after a slow start in set one (0-6). The transfer, out of Prairie State College, returned serve with a 6-4 second set win and a 10-5 tiebreak set. The Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, native was the lone point scored for the Bulldogs against the Hawks.
In doubles, No. 3s Santiago Abadia and Ben Chisholm kept the Illinois lineup from sweeping with a 6-3 set win over Gerard Abad Puig and Pablo Mateos Niella.
Concordia (3-4) will dual with Baker University (1-1) of Kansas on Saturday (Mar. 1). The Bulldogs are set to host the Wildcats at 1 p.m. CT inside the Walz Fieldhouse. CUNE defeated Baker (5-2) last season in Fremont.