SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Men’s Tennis team ran up against a worthy foe in the form of NCAA Division II Emporia State University (Kan.) on Saturday (March 20) at the Bulldog Tennis Courts. A win at No. 5 singles from Isaac Howes allowed Concordia to put one team point on the board in a 6-1 loss to the visiting Hornets.
Head Coach David DeSimone’s squad had hoped to claim back-to-back wins following last week’s 5-2 triumph over Tabor College (Kan.). The Bulldogs now stand at 4-2 overall. Said DeSimone, “We played solid doubles at 2 and 3, pushing some good players. Isaac Howes played a great singles match to win in a 10-point tiebreaker.”
As mentioned by DeSimone, Howes came back to win at the No. 5 spot in outlasting Pablo Caranzo. Things were tight at the top with Gregor Lainer falling at No. 1, 7-5, 6-4. In the No. 4 singles match, Luke Zoller fell just shy of forcing a tiebreaker in a 6-0, 6-4, decision.
The duo of Jack Kitson and Eduardo Rojas were defeated in a tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles. Meanwhile, Juan Rabellino and Zoller teamed up at No. 3 were edged, 6-4. Lainer and Jeremy Berryman paired up at No. 1 (6-1 loss).
Emporia State is 4-0 with each of those wins coming over NAIA opponents (including Tabor College, Friends University and Ottawa University). The Hornets compete as part of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Conference play will open up next Saturday (March 27) when the Bulldogs will host Morningside (3-4, 0-0 GPAC). First serve is set for 1 p.m. CT from the Bulldog Tennis Courts. In the latest conference ratings, Concordia checked in at No. 3, just in front of the fourth-ranked Mustangs.