LINCOLN, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s tennis team took a break from conference play and fended off two opponents from the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference of NCAA Division III. In Saturday’s action, the Bulldogs nipped Wartburg College (Iowa), 5-4, and then won handily, 7-2, over Buena Vista University (Iowa). Both matches were played in Lincoln.
Third-year head coach Joel Reckewey’s squad has run its record to 9-10 overall thanks to four-straight wins, including two over conference foes. Said Reckewey, “It’s great to see our guys play that well and have everyone contributing throughout the lineup.”
Sophomore Thomas Greeff produced a pair of victories at the No. 1 singles spot in his impressive day. In the victory over Wartburg, the back half of the singles lineup paid significant dividends. Nos. 4 through 6 players Gabe Poling, Lucas Zoller and Josh Miller all turned in wins to help pull out the team triumph. Those victories were needed after Concordia fell behind, 2-1, after doubles. The winning Bulldog combo was made up of Patricio Esquivel and Miller.
Concordia won more comfortably in its second match of the day by snagging victories in two of three doubles and five of six singles matches over the Beavers. In a revamped lineup, singles wins were claimed by Greeff, Javier Moreno (No. 2), Esquivel (No. 3), Caleb Lauby (No. 5) and Alex Kaldahl (No. 6). Moreno and Poling and Kaldahl and Tommy McNish were part of victorious doubles teams.
During its active win streak, Concordia has defeated Midland and Mount Marty in addition to the victories earned on Saturday. It marks a season high win streak.
The regular season will wrap up on Tuesday when Hastings (7-7, 3-0 GPAC) visits Seward for a 4 p.m. CT first serve. The GPAC tournament will be held in Fremont, Neb., May 5-6.