SALINA, Kan. – Concordia Men’s Tennis competed in two separate tournaments this past weekend (Sept. 20-22) at the Salina Central High School Tennis Courts. Kansas Wesleyan University hosted its invitational and the NAIA Central-West ITA Regional Championship. Newcomer Nick Velders went unbeaten on day one of the ITA’s and Grady Works won three straight matches in the KWU Invite.
Prairie State College transfer Velders opened his first NAIA tournament with back to back wins over Yohann Molle (6-1, 6-3) and battled Jesse Gerth took control in the third set tiebreak (6-1, 1-6, 10-2). He became the first Bulldog in program history to start the tournament 2-0. No. 16 Velders was set to face No. 1 overall seed Zinovii Nahirniak on Saturday. The Apeldoorn, Netherlands, native went back and forth with Nahirniak bet eventually fell (7-6 (6), 6-4) to the eventual ITA Regional Champion.
Second year Bulldog Works was unseeded coming into the KWU Tournament but didn’t leave outside the top eight. The Lincoln, Neb., native defeated Balazs Temesvari (8-5) and Andrew Hammer (8-3) in his first two matches. On a roll, Works ran into Concordia teammate Michael Bedrosian and got the better of him in an 8-4 friendly fire competition. After winning, three straight matches, Works retired in the quarterfinals. Bedrosian won his first two matchups versus Peter Jost (8-2) and upset No. 1 seed Valentine Corriger (8-5). The Sanger High product went 2-1 in the draw.
After Hugo Fuentes opened ITA’s with a loss, the Spaniard defeated Drue Cohen (8-2) in the men’s singles consolation draw. Velders and Fuentes paired up in doubles and defeated Trenkle and Minetti (8-3) in the opening round.
Manuel Rodriguez seized an 8-5 win over Enric Galan but fell in the second round of the Kansas Wesleyan Invite. Ethan Phinney also competed in the tournament.
Concordia will be back on the courts this weekend in the GPAC Fall Individual Tennis Tournament. The draw will be held at the Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln, Neb. on Sept. 27-28.