Oct. 2, 2021
While presiding over both women’s and men’s matches on Saturday, Head Coach Cam Long made his home and dual debut.
“We played tough against a team that finished ranked 10th last season in the JUCO national rankings,” Long said. “This match gives me confidence moving forward and shows we can hang with any team, as we were a tiebreaker away from taking the doubles point. Playing this match will only help make us better long term. Now we’ve got one week left of our fall season to build some positive momentum heading into the offseason and spring.”
The Tritons just barely got the best of Concordia in doubles while squeaking out the tiebreaker at No. 1, where Zamani Moyo and Riku Sugiyama edged out Eduardo Luzzi and Eduardo Rojas. At the No. 2 doubles spot, the Bulldog combo of Jeremiah Berryman and Joseph Bindl emerged with a 6-3 win. At the final spot, Kitson and Juan Rabellino were upended, 6-2.
Kitson got Concordia on the board in singles with his win at No. 6, 7-5, 6-3, over Luis Fuentes. At the Nos. 1 and 2 singles spots, respectively, Luzzi and Isaac Howes both competed wire-to-wire in close defeats. Luzzi won the second set of his match and Howes took the first set in his battle. The rest of the singles lineup featured Bindl at No. 3, Berryman at No. 4 and Rojas at No. 5.
The Bulldogs are looking to build off a 2020-21 campaign that finished with Concordia as the GPAC runner up in both the regular season and postseason. The Bulldogs went 10-6 overall. Meanwhile, Iowa Central went 9-3 last season.
A fall season that has included two tournaments will conclude next Saturday (Oct. 9) when Concordia hosts NCCA Division II William Jewell College (Mo.) for 11:30 a.m. CT first serve. The Bulldogs picked up a 4-3 win last season over William Jewell.
Oct. 9, 2021
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad also dropped a 6-1 decision to Iowa Central Community College a week earlier. The Bulldogs competed in two tournaments and two duals this fall.
In singles play, tiebreakers in either the first or second set were needed to help decide the outcome at Nos. 1, 2 and 6 singles while No. 3 singles went to a third set tiebreak. The singles lineup for the Bulldogs, in order, included Isaac Howes, Joseph Bindl, Jeremiah Berryman, Eduardo Rojas, Jack Kitson and Juan Rabellino. Concordia had to make a late adjustment when it scratched its No. 1 singles player from the lineup.
In doubles, William Jewell won by scores of 6-1 at No. 1, 6-2 at No. 2 and 6-3 at No. 3. Kitson and Rabellino paired up at No. 3 in the most competitive action.
Most of the 2021-22 season will take place in the spring when all GPAC matches are contested. The spring schedule will be announced soon.
Jan. 25, 2022
Season Preview: 2022 Concordia Men's Tennis Feb. 8, 2022
Head Coach: Cam Long (1st season)2021 record: 10-6 overall, 5-1 GPAC (2nd); GPAC tournament runner upKey returners: Jeremiah Berryman (Sr.); Joseph Bindl (Jr.); Isaac Howes (Jr.); Jack Kitson (Jr.); Juan Rabellino (So.); Eduardo Rojas (So.).Key losses: Gregor Lainer; Luke Zoller.Key Newcomer: Eduardo Luzzi.2021 GPAC All-Conference: Jeremiah Berryman (singles, HM doubles); Joe Bindl (singles); Isaac Howes (singles); Gregor Lainer (doubles); Eduardo Rojas (doubles, HM singles); Luke Zoller (HM singles/doubles).
Outlook
Naturally, Concordia expects to be one of the GPAC’s top teams again this spring. The 2021 edition broke new ground for the program by reaching the conference postseason final and started out GPAC play at 5-0. Midland was the foe that stood in the way of the Bulldogs reaching the national tournament. Long finds himself in a good situation with the team he has inherited.
Said Long, “Having that maturity is really helpful for me coming in as a first-year coach. Having guys who have been around for a long time has been super helpful. We have a lot of underclassmen too. We have three freshmen who can make an impact. They have four seniors to look up to. They really drive the personality on the team. They like to joke around and have fun a lot in practice. The other day they started calling themselves the ‘core four.’ I don’t really know what that means, but they just like to have fun and I think the underclassmen are seeing that. They can have fun and work really hard at the same time. They’ve shown great leadership so far.”
A Dubuque, Iowa, native, Long brings an NCAA Division III background to Seward. The Luther College alum previously served as the assistant coach at D-III Centre College in Dansville, Ky. Long already has a good feel for the strengths and weaknesses of the roster having gone through a short fall season and a demanding preseason practice plan since the second semester began. Back in the fall, Concordia competed in two tournaments and went up against two strong opponents that should help prepare it for what is to come.
The group that referred to itself as the “core four” includes Jeremiah Berryman, Joe Bindl, Isaac Howes and Jack Kitson. Berryman is in his fifth year in the program while the other three have each been regulars in the lineup since arriving in the fall of 2018. Bindl paced last season’s team with 11 singles wins. Both Bindl and Howes went 5-1 in GPAC singles matches in 2021. On the other hand, the Bulldogs will have to replace Gregor Lainer, who held down the No. 1 spot in last season's lineup.
Concordia has a right to feel confident. Says Bindl, “There’s a sense of urgency with the leadership of this team. We’re just showing the younger guys how to act and what we stand for as a program. We’re a really supportive team. These younger guys came in and were already really supportive. That shows the team atmosphere that we have. That starts with the leaders of the group. The returning guys have just been really good leaders.”
The Bulldogs also bring back the likes of Juan Rabellino and Eduardo Rojas. As far as doubles groups go, Kitson and Rojas played together the most having partnered in nine matches last season. Back in the fall, Rojas paired up with freshman Eduardo Luzzi at the No. 1 spot. How things come together in double play could decide whether Concordia gets over the hump in its pursuit of winning a conference championship.
“We know we’re right there and we need to start thinking that we’re going to win rather than just competing to keep it close,” Long said. “Our mindset needs to be, ‘we’re going to win today.’ From a technical standpoint, we want to improve in doubles play especially. The doubles point is a big point. When you’re that close to other teams, there are probably going to be matches where each team wins three out of the six singles. The big thing for me is figuring out a doubles lineup that’s going to win two out of three matches.”
Two of the more thrilling moments last season included the 4-3 home win over Doane and then another victory over Doane that came in the GPAC semifinals. The campaign came to a close with a 4-0 loss to Midland in the conference championship. With 11 nonconference matches on the table prior to the start of league play this spring, the Bulldogs will have plenty of opportunities to improve before seeing the likes of Doane and Midland once again.
Said Bindl, “I’m looking forward to one last season with the guys I’ve made relationships with these past four years. We have about 20 matches so that’s going to be really nice. I’m just hoping to come out strong with my final year of tennis here and continually build relationships with the guys. Hopefully we can go out strong in Alabama.”
Of course Mobile, Ala., is the site of the national tournament for tennis. Concordia isn’t afraid to mention that its goal this season is to win the conference and become the first team in the program’s history to reach the national stage.
“When you lose in the conference championship match, naturally the next year the goal is to win the championship,” Long said. “That’s our goal. It’s okay for me to say it because it’s obvious – and they know it. That’s something we’re working towards. At the same time, we don’t need to worry about any other team specifically. Those teams that were at the top of the conference like Midland and Doane – we don’t need to worry about them. We need to worry about ourselves and get better.”
The season will resume when Colorado College makes a visit to Seward on Feb. 19. The first GPAC match is slated for March 26 with a match at Morningside.
Bulldogs fall in spring opener despite sweeping doubles Feb. 19, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – In the team’s first action since this past October, the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team opened the spring portion of the season by hosting NCAA Division III Colorado College on Saturday (Feb. 19). The Bulldogs swept through doubles before the Tigers rebounded to win five of the six singles matches. The result was a 5-2 team win for Colorado College. The contest took place inside the Walz Fieldhouse.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad is now 0-3 while taking on a difficult nonconference slate. Concordia fell in the fall at the hands of Iowa Central Community College and William Jewell College (Mo.).
Said Long, “We came out on fire in doubles. We were very aggressive from the start and had Colorado College on its heels a little. They rest and settled down in singles play. We fought and held on as long as we could, but couldn’t quite stop their comeback once they got the momentum. We learned a lot of things and got better today. We’ll be back ready to go Wednesday.”
The victorious doubles combos for Concordia included Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino at No. 1, Eduardo Rojas and Jack Kitson at No. 2 and Joe Bindl and Jeremiah Berryman at No. 3. The respective scores were 7-6, 6-4 and 6-4. It was a 2-0 day for Kitson, who also outlasted Nate Beerman in a tiebreaker at No. 5 singles.
Long’s singles lineup also featured Luzzi at No. 1, Isaac Howes at No. 2, Rojas at No. 3, Shawn Springer at No. 4 and Bindl at No. 6. Springer was involved in a close battle that went to his counterpart, 7-5, 6-4. After dropping the first set, Howes fell in the second, 7-5, in another heated contest. As part of its weekend in Nebraska, Colorado College (2-2) was defeated at Midland on Friday, 5-2.
The Bulldogs will take to the road for the first time this spring when they play at Grand View University (Iowa) at 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday. The two sides last met up in February 2020 with the result being a 6-1 victory for the Vikings.
Bulldogs edged in nail-biter at Grand View Feb. 23, 2022
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Concordia University Men’s Tennis team couldn’t quite get its first win of the season, falling to Grand View University 4-3 on Wednesday (Feb. 23). The difference in the day was two doubles matches that ended in tiebreakers, both of which the Bulldogs lost, and another near miss in singles. The contest took place indoors at Genesis Health Club in Des Moines, Iowa.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad slipped to 0-4 with the loss. Long sees a team that’s not far off from putting things together.
“There were a few unfortunate breaks that occurred that were out of our control,” Long said. “I'm proud of the way our guys battled through it. We were two points away from winning the match, but unfortunately, it went the other way.”
The No. 2 doubles team of Jack Kitson and Rojas Eduardo was the only doubles pair to get a win on Wednesday, triumphing 6-0. Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino (No. 1 doubles) lost 7-6 (7-5) and the No. 3 doubles team of Jeremiah Berryman and Joseph Bindl also fell in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-4).
The Bulldogs won three out of their six singles matches. No. 1 Issac Howes lost in a tiebreaker (6-1, 3-6, 1-0). In No. 5 singles, Rabellino also fell in a tiebreaker (4-6, 6-4, 1-0). Rojas Eduardo (No. 2), Jack Kitson (No. 4), and Joseph Bindl (No. 6) were able to come away with victories in their matches. The singles lineup also featured Shawn Springer at No. 3.
Concordia is scheduled to welcome Bethany College (Kan.) to Seward on Saturday (Feb. 26). Bethany is also looking for its first team win of the early season. Matches will get started at 1 p.m. CT.
Concordia picks up first win of 2022 while blanking Bethany Feb. 26, 2022
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – A boost of confidence came on Saturday for Concordia University Men’s Tennis. While in action at the Grand Island Tennis Center in Grand Island, Neb., the Bulldogs won all six singles matches and two of three doubles matches on the way to a 7-0 victory over Bethany College, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The 7-0 score was an improvement as compared to last season’s 5-2 win over Bethany.
Counting the matches from the fall, Head Coach Cam Long’s squad is now 1-4 overall. Earlier in the week, Concordia dropped a 4-3 decision at Grand View University (Iowa) that could have easily gone the other way.
“We came out a little flat in doubles and got off to a slow start, but we battled and found a way to squeak out the doubles point,” Long said. “We settled in during singles and took control of the match. It’s good to get our first win under our belts.”
As Long mentioned, the doubles point did not come easy. It came down to a tiebreaker at No. 1 doubles where the Bulldog combo of Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino emerged victorious, 7-6 (7-3). Concordia pulled off a less dramatic victory at No. 3 doubles as Jeremiah Berryman and Luke Johnson won, 6-2. Bethany managed to triumph at No. 2 doubles, 6-2.
In singles, the Bulldogs kept the Swedes (0-3) off the board by winning close decisions via Jack Kitson at No. 3, Shawn Spring at No. 4 and Joe Bindl at No. 5. The margins were larger in Concordia wins by Isaac Howes at No. 1 (6-1, 6-3), Eduardo Rojas at No. 2 (6-4, 6-0) and Manuel Rodriguez at No. 6 (6-0, 6-0). Bethany also lost to GPAC opponents in Hastings on Feb. 5 and Midland on Feb. 11.
The Bulldogs will be back in action next Saturday (March 5) when they will be in Liberty, Mo., with a chance to avenge a loss from back in the fall. Concordia and host William Jewell College will go head-to-head at 1 p.m. CT. The Cardinals emerged from Seward with a 7-0 victory on Oct. 9.
Season resumes with busy stretch for Bulldogs Mar. 14, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – After having a series of matches canceled over the weekend, Concordia University Men’s Tennis will be back in action with three outings this week. That stretch begins on Tuesday with Sterling College (Kan.) paying a visit to Seward. The Bulldogs will also host Bethel College (Kan.) on Wednesday and then travel to Missouri Valley College on Saturday. Both home matches will take place on Concordia’s outdoor campus courts. Head Coach Cam Long’s squad currently stands at 1-4 overall.
This Week
Tuesday, March 15 vs. Sterling (0-3), 3 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16 vs. Bethel (1-2), 11 a.m.
Saturday, March 19 at Missouri Valley (5-6), 1 p.m.
By the numbers
· Concordia’s 1-4 start has included a win over Bethany College (Kan.), 7-0, back on Feb. 26 (the team’s most recent match). Prior to that victory, the Bulldogs were defeated by Iowa Central Community College, 6-1, William Jewell College (Mo.), 7-0, Colorado College, 5-2, and Grand View University (Iowa), 4-3.
· Through five matches, three Concordia players have won at least two singles matches: Jack Kitson (4-1), Joe Bindl (2-3) and Eduardo Rojas (2-3). The most successful doubles pairs have been Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino and Kitson and Rojas (both 2-1). The combo of Jeremiah Berryman and Bindl sports a record of 2-2. As a team this season, the Bulldogs have gone 11-19 in singles and 7-8 in doubles play.
· The most recent GPAC ratings were released on Feb. 28. Concordia landed at No. 3 behind Midland and Doane. The teams ranked four through seven were Morningside, Hastings, Northwestern and Mount Marty.
Next week
The Bulldogs are slated to be on the road twice next week with a trip to Kansas Wesleyan University for an 11 a.m. first serve on March 22. Conference play will then get started with a 12 p.m. match at Morningside on March 26.
Ten Bulldogs contribute to rout of Sterling Mar. 15, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – In its first action since Feb. 26, the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team dominated visiting Sterling College (Kan.). The Tuesday (March 15) afternoon match marked the Bulldogs’ first outdoor home contest of the spring season. Ten different Bulldogs made up the doubles/singles lineup in what amounted to a 7-0 victory. Concordia did not drop a single set.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad has won back-to-back matches by 7-0 scores and has improved to 2-4 overall.
“In practice yesterday I could tell everyone was eager to be back,” Long said. “They were locked in and really looking forward to today. I think that showed in the scores. It was really good to get everybody in the lineup and able to play. Eduardo Rojas got two wins on his birthday, so that was awesome to see.”
The Bulldogs set the tone in doubles play in winning by scores of 6-3 at No. 1, 6-4 at No. 2 and 6-0 at No. 3. The doubles pairs were made up of (in order): Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino, Jack Kitson and Eduardo Rojas and Jeremiah Berryman and Joe Bindl. The combos of Luzzi and Rabellino and Kitson and Rojas have moved to 3-1 on the season.
Berryman did not relinquish a single game in his doubles/singles matches. At the No. 5 singles spot, the Broken Arrow, Okla., native won, 6-0, 6-0. Winning performances were also turned in by Isaac Howes (6-4, 6-1) at No. 1, Rojas (6-1, 6-1) at No. 2, Shawn Springer (6-4, 6-1) at No. 3, Manuel Rodriguez (6-1, 6-1) at No. 4 and Luke Johnson (6-0, 6-1) at No. 6. Among the singles victors, Rojas (3-3) owns the most wins this season.
The Warriors slipped to 0-4 while continuing their nonconference tour of the GPAC. A Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member, Sterling has also been beaten this season by Morningside, Midland and Hastings. Last season, Concordia traveled to Hutchinson, Kan., and defeated the Warriors, 5-2.
The Bulldogs will be right back at home to host Bethel College (Kan.) (1-4) at 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday. Concordia will attempt to avenge its 6-1 loss from last season at the hands of the Threshers, who also compete as a member of the KCAC.
Doubles play a strength in loss to Bethel Mar. 16, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – A lead after doubles play did not hold up on a sun-soaked Wednesday (March 16) as the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team hosted Bethel College (Kan.). The visiting Threshers rebounded by winning five singles matches while earning the 5-2 victory in a contest played at the Bulldog Tennis Courts in Seward. Jeremiah Berryman starred for Concordia in triumphing in both doubles and singles.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad was fresh off a 7-0 win over Sterling College (Kan.) on Tuesday. The Bulldogs own a record of 2-5 overall.
“The thing that jumps out is doubles,” Long said. “We played well enough to win yesterday in doubles and did what we needed to do, but today we played really well. We came out at No. 1 and got a 6-2 win – that was really good. Then at No. 3, that was also a really good match. All season we’ve done well in doubles. That’s where I’m happiest right now.”
The victorious doubles pairs for Concordia on Wednesday were Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino at No. 1 and Berryman and Bindl at No. 3 (6-2). Those two winning efforts put the Bulldogs in front of the Threshers heading into singles. Bethel did manage to come out on top at No. 2 doubles, 6-2, a spot held down in the Concordia lineup by Jack Kitson and Eduardo Rojas.
Bethel roared back by winning at the Nos. 1 through 5 spots in singles. Of those matches, the most hotly contested was at No. 1, where the Threshers’ Michael Cech held off Isaac Howes in a tiebreaker. Berryman put the second Bulldog team point on the board by taking a pro set, 8-5, over Jordan Singh.
A native of Broken Arrow, Okla., Berryman returned to the program for a fifth season and is taking advantage of an opportunity to be a leader for a team that hopes to compete near the top of the GPAC. Said Berryman, “I really enjoy it here. I really wanted to get my master’s – and luckily they offer it here. I thought that if I have an extra year of eligibility, I might as well play and get my master’s at the same time. I just love being here with the guys. It’s really fun, and I’m glad to be here for one more year.”
Bethel moved to 2-4 overall as part of a busy day. The Threshers were headed to play Doane in Crete at the conclusion of the match in Seward. They compete as a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Concordia will be on the road on Saturday for a 1 p.m. CT match at Missouri Valley College (5-6), located in Marshall, Mo. In their last time out, the Vikings picked up a 4-2 win over Milligan University (Tenn.) on March 11.
Howes triumphs as Concordia pushes Missouri Valley Mar. 20, 2022
MARSHALL, Mo. – A rigorous nonconference slate continued on Saturday (March 19) as the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team made its way to Marshall, Mo. An opponent that had received votes nationally this season, Missouri Valley College managed to win all three doubles matches and five of six singles contests in a 6-1 team victory for the Vikings. Isaac Howes came away with the lone victory for the Bulldogs.
Despite what the team score shows, Head Coach Cam Long saw reasons to be optimistic about Saturday’s effort. Concordia now stands at 2-6 overall.
“I was pleased with our play,” Long said. “Missouri Valley is one of the best teams we will face this season, so this match will help us moving forward. I’m happy for Isaac to get a win. He’s played a bunch of super tiebreakers so far this season and it was only a matter of time before he’d get a big win.”
The win for Howes came at the No. 2 singles spot over Jacopo Scottocornola (0-6, 7-5, 1-0). The response by Howes was impressive after he was defeated handily in the first set. At No. 1 singles, Eduardo Luzzi came close to forcing a super tiebreaker in what went down as a 2-6, 6-7 (5) loss.
In doubles, Missouri Valley got the team point thanks to a sweep. The closest the Bulldogs came to a win was at No. 2 where Joe Bindl and Jeremiah Berryman were edged, 7-5. The scores at Nos. 1 and 3 both ended at 6-3.
The Bulldogs will be on the road on Tuesday for an 11 a.m. matchup with Kansas Wesleyan University, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference located in Salina, Kan. The two programs have not met since the 2018 season.
Luzzi, Rabellino star as Bulldogs win GPAC opener at Morningside Mar. 26, 2022
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A challenging nonconference slate appears to have prepared the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team well for the start of GPAC action. In the conference opener at Morningside on Saturday (March 26), the Bulldogs prevailed, 4-3, while getting winning performances in both singles and doubles from Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino. Concordia took two of three doubles contests while splitting the six singles matches with the Mustangs.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad improved to 3-6 overall while defeating a Morningside foe that had entered the weekend with a 7-2 overall mark.
“It’s great to start off the GPAC schedule in the win column,” Long said. “Morningside will be a tough out for anyone the rest of the season. We played well from the start and had our chances to put them away early, but credit to them for hanging tough. They made a late push in the match, but we were able to hang on. We’re excited to keep working and improving for the rest of the conference slate.”
Dating back to last season, the Bulldogs have won six of their last seven GPAC regular season matches. Concordia also edged Morningside by a 4-3 score in 2021. In the latest matchup, the Bulldogs gained the upper hand in doubles thanks to the work of Luzzi and Rabellino at No. 1 (6-2) and Joe Bindl and Jeremiah Berryman at No. 2 (6-4). The Mustangs triumphed at No. 3, 6-2.
In singles, Rabellino clinched team victory when he took out Danny O’Brien, 6-1, 7-6 (5), in a match with hotly contested second set. Prior to win by Rabellino, Luzzi claimed victory at No. 1 (6-2, 6-2) and Isaac Howes stayed hot by taking a 6-3, 6-4, decision at No. 2. The rest of the Concordia lineup was filled by Shawn Springer at No. 3, Jack Kitson at No. 4 and Bindl at No. 5.
The Mustangs finished at 8-9 overall (3-3 GPAC) last season. They began 2022 conference play on March 18 with a 7-0 victory over Mount Marty.
The Bulldogs will take on Mount Marty (0-4) in Yankton, S.D., at 1 p.m. CT on Thursday. Concordia will attempt to duplicate last season’s 7-0 win over the Lancers.
Bulldogs readying for three-matches-in-three-days stretch Mar. 28, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – On the heels of opening conference play this past weekend, the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team is readying to play three consecutive days Thursday through Saturday. The Bulldogs will be at Mount Marty on Thursday before hosting NCAA Division III Central College (Iowa) on Friday and then Northwestern on Saturday. Head Coach Cam Long’s squad currently sits at 3-6 overall with a 1-0 conference mark thanks to the 4-3 win at Morningside on March 26.
This Week
Thursday, March 31 at Mount Marty (0-5, 0-3 GPAC), 1 p.m.
Friday, April 1 vs. Central College (5-5), 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 2 vs. Northwestern (7-3, 0-0 GPAC), 11 a.m.
By the numbers
· Dating back to last season, Concordia has picked up momentum against its conference rivals. The Bulldogs have won six of their last seven GPAC regular season matches. That run included a 5-0 conference start in 2021. The only loss during that stretch came at the hands of Midland, which remains the team to beat in the conference. The Warriors are currently receiving votes nationally. In the most recent GPAC ratings, Concordia landed at No. 3 behind Midland and Doane.
· The 4-3 win at Morningside represented the exact same team score from the 2021 matchup between the Bulldogs and Mustangs. In last week’s meeting, Concordia gained the upper hand in doubles thanks to the work of Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino at No. 1 (6-2) and Joe Bindl and Jeremiah Berryman at No. 2 (6-4). In singles, Rabellino clinched team victory when he took out Danny O’Brien, 6-1, 7-6 (5), in a match with hotly contested second set. Prior to win by Rabellino, Luzzi claimed victory at No. 1 (6-2, 6-2) and Isaac Howes stayed hot by taking a 6-3, 6-4, decision at No. 2. The rest of the Concordia lineup was filled by Shawn Springer at No. 3, Jack Kitson at No. 4 and Bindl at No. 5.
· Through nine dual matches this season, the men’s team has gone a combined 22-32 in singles and 14-13 in doubles matches. Individually, Jack Kitson (4-3) and Isaac Howes (4-5) pace the squad with four singles wins apiece. Eduardo Rojas (3-5) is close behind with three. In doubles, the most successful pairs have been Luzzi/Rabellino (5-2) and Berryman/Bindl (5-3). In addition, Kitson and Rojas (3-3) have teamed up for three doubles victories.
· From a career perspective, the career singles wins leaders among Bulldogs are Isaac Howes (31), Jeremiah Berryman (29), Joe Bindl (18) and Jack Kitson (17). Berryman is a fifth-year senior while the others are in their fourth years at Concordia. Howes won 13 matches in 2019 while Bindl is coming off an 11-win 2021 season.
· The slate this week includes an NCAA Division III foe and two GPAC opponents. Central College is a member of the American Rivers Conference. Concordia played the Dutch in 2020 prior to the COVID shutdown and won by a 6-3 final score in Pella, Iowa. In conference play, the Bulldogs hope to duplicate last season’s results when they defeated Mount Marty, 7-0, and Northwestern, 6-1. The Red Raiders played three NCAA D-III opponents last week and came away with wins over Nebraska Wesleyan University and Simpson College (Iowa).
Next week
Luzzi named GPAC Player of the Week after leading win at Morningside Mar. 30, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – For his role in last week’s win at Morningside, Concordia University Tennis standout Eduardo Luzzi has been recognized as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Player of the Week, as announced on Wednesday (March 30). Luzzi is the program’s first weekly award winner of the 2022 season and first since Joe Bindl garnered the same honor in April of 2021.
Luzzi’s contributions were crucial to Head Coach Cam Long’s squad coming out on top, 4-3, in the GPAC opener at Morningside on March 26. At the No. 1 singles position, Luzzi earned a 6-2, 6-2, decision over Jaime Maza Martin. A native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Luzzi also paired up with teammate Juan Rabellino for a 6-2 victory at No. 1 doubles. On the season, Luzzi and Rabellino have produced a 5-2 record as a doubles tandem. Dating back to last season, the Bulldog Men’s Tennis program has won six of its past seven GPAC regular season matches.
Up next, Luzzi and company will be at Mount Marty for a 1 p.m. CT match on Thursday. Concordia will also host Central College (Iowa) on Friday and Northwestern on Saturday.
Perfect doubles performance propels Bulldogs to 6-1 win at Mount Marty Mar. 31, 2022
YANKTON, S.D. – In conference action, the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team breezed through doubles play in Yankton, S.D., on Thursday (March 31). The strong start propelled the Bulldogs to a 6-1 road win over Mount Marty. Concordia won each of the doubles contests by 6-0 decisions before taking five of six singles matches.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad has started 2-0 in conference play having also defeated Morningside, 4-3, last week. The Bulldogs have improved to 4-6 overall.
“It was good to have the guys get the job done today,” Long said. “We are looking to keep the momentum going tomorrow and Saturday.”
The only blemish on Thursday for Concordia was a tight defeat in three sets at No. 1 singles, where Isaac Howes was edged out. That was really the only drama in a match dominated by the Bulldogs. The victorious doubles teams for Concordia included Eduardo Luzzi and Jeremiah Berryman at No. 1, Jack Kitson and Juan Rabellino at No. 2 and Bindl and Howes at No. 3. Luzzi had just been named the GPAC Player of the Week on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs triumphed handily at the Nos. 2 through 6 singles spots. Those positions in the lineup were manned by Shawn Springer at No. 2, Bindl at No. 3, Manuel Rodriguez at No. 4, Rabellino at No. 5 and Berryman at No. 6. Rabellino won by a spotless score of 6-0, 6-0, and Springer and Berryman dropped only one game apiece. Meanwhile, Bindl won, 6-1, 6-1, and Rodriguez took care of business, 6-3, 6-1.
The Lancers fell to 0-6 overall (0-3 GPAC). In recent conference action, Mount Marty was also tripped up by Midland and Hastings. Mount Marty has a competitive No. 1 player in Jeronimo Wagner, who earned his side’s only team point over Concordia.
The Bulldogs will be at home the next two days while hosting NCAA Division III Central College (Iowa) at 4 p.m. CT on Friday and Northwestern (7-3, 0-0 GPAC) at roughly 1:30 p.m. on Saturday (following the women’s match). Concordia’s most recent home match occurred on March 16 when it hosted Bethel College (Kan.).
Concordia cruses past Central for third-straight win Apr. 1, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – Nine Bulldogs contributed on Friday (April 1) night as the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team moved its win streak to three. In the matchup with NCAA Division III Central College (Iowa), the Bulldogs swept through doubles and singles and won, 7-0. The match began outside on the Bulldog Tennis Courts before rained moved it inside the Walz Fieldhouse.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad also won by a 7-0 final score at Mount Marty on Thursday. Concordia is two-thirds of the way towards completing a perfect week of action and has moved to 5-6 overall this season.
“We kept the momentum going from Thursday and got off to a good start,” Long said. “I think we played well as a team, played smart and used our strengths to their weaknesses. That’s what got the job done. We’re at three wins in a row now – that’s big. Tomorrow’s match against Northwestern going to be big as well. It will be a battle, but we should be going in high on confidence.”
Before the rain started in the evening, the Bulldogs had already taken control of the match. Long made some slight adjustments in the lineup as compared to Thursday, but the top two doubles pairs remained the same. At No. 1, Jeremiah Berryman and Eduardo Luzzi won, 6-3, while the duo of Jack Kitson and Juan Rabellino triumphed, 6-1, at No. 2. At the No. 3 spot, Joe Bindl teamed up with Eduardo Rojas for a 6-2 victory.
In singles play, the most competitive match occurred at No. 2 with Shawn Springer and Caleb Hamerlinck battling closely in the second set. Spring pulled it out, 6-3, 7-6 (4). Concordia managed to win every set and was especially dominant at No. 5, where Rabellino had his way, 6-0, 6-0. Other Bulldog singles winners were Isaac Howes at No. 1 (6-3, 6-2), Manuel Rodriguez at No. 3 (6-3, 6-0), Bindl at No. 4 (6-1, 6-2) and Berryman at No. 6 (6-1, 6-0).
The Dutch, who compete in the American Rivers Conference, slipped to 5-6 overall as they get set to go up against conference foe Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday. Two years ago, Concordia earned a 6-3 win at Central.
The Bulldogs will be in action for a third-straight day as they prepare to host Northwestern (7-3, 0-0 GPAC) on Saturday. The men’s match will follow the women’s contest, which will get underway at 11 a.m. CT from the Bulldog Tennis Courts. Last season, Concordia emerged a 6-1 winner over the Red Raiders in Orange City, Iowa.
Win streak reaches four with rout of Northwestern Apr. 2, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – Things have come together at the right time for Concordia University Men’s Tennis, which remains unbeaten in conference play after knocking off Northwestern, 6-1, on Saturday (April 2) afternoon. Doubles play continues to be a strength as the Bulldogs swept through the Red Raiders and then took five of six singles battles. Eduardo Luzzi and Joe Bindl came away with wins in both doubles and singles.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad effectively pushed the win streak to four and is now 3-0 in league play (6-6) overall. Over the past three days, Concordia has earned wins by respective scores of 6-1, 7-0 and 6-1.
“Doubles is definitely our strong suit,” Long said. “We have a lot of good servers on our team and a lot of players who are good at the net. We make it work with what we have. We’re a very smart doubles team that doesn’t beat itself. We keep the ball in play and make our opponents beat us. It’s really nice to be able to take that point in a lot of matches. I was very impressed with Isaac Howes and Shawn Springer in singles. Shawn served really well and played well in general. Isaac played that same opponent in the fall and he knew what it took to win. There were good performances up and down the singles lineup.”
A couple days ago, the Bulldogs won all three doubles matches by 6-0 scores at Mount Marty. This time around, Concordia’s winning combinations were Luzzi and Juan Rabellino at No. 1 (6-3), Bindl and Jeremiah Berryman at No. 2 (6-4) and Eduardo Rojas and Jack Kitson at No. 3 (6-2). Through three GPAC outings, the group has combined to go 8-1 in doubles matches.
The only defeat for the Bulldogs came at No. 4 singles. The rest of the lineup came out on top. Winning singles performances were turned in by Luzzi at No. 1 (6-4, 6-3), Howes at No. 2 (6-3, 6-2), Springer at No. 3 (7-6, 7-5), Bindl at No. 5 (6-3, 6-2) and Rabellino at No. 6 (6-3, 6-0). Rabellino is now a spotless 3-0 in GPAC singles matches while Luzzi is 2-0 versus conference foes.
Dating back to last season, Concordia is 8-1 in its last nine GPAC regular season matches. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders slipped to 7-5 overall (0-2 GPAC). Northwestern was defeated at Midland, 7-0, on Friday.
The Bulldogs will be on the road for their next match as they look forward to playing at Hastings (3-5, 1-0 GPAC) at 3 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Concordia hopes to duplicate last season’s result, which was a 6-1 decision in favor of the Bulldogs in a match played in Seward.
Bulldogs carry four-match win streak into pivotal week of GPAC play Apr. 4, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – A four-match win streak provides momentum for Concordia University Men’s Tennis as it looks forward to a pivotal week of conference action. Fresh off wins in three-straight days from Thursday through Saturday last week, the Bulldogs are looking forward to playing at Hastings on Wednesday before hosting reigning GPAC champion Midland on Saturday. Head Coach Cam Long’s squad enters the week with a spotless 3-0 conference mark (6-6 overall). Concordia is tied with Midland atop the conference standings.
This Week
Wednesday, April 6 at Hastings (3-6, 1-1 GPAC), 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 9 vs. Midland (14-3, 3-0 GPAC), 11 a.m.
By the numbers
· A new set of GPAC ratings came out last Monday (March 28). The Bulldogs landed at No. 3 behind Midland and Doane. Concordia will have its opportunities yet to go up against both Nebraska rivals. Since the start of the 2021 season, the Bulldogs have lost to only one GPAC opponent – Midland. Concordia is 8-1 in its last nine GPAC regular season matches. The Bulldogs will likely have to go through the Warriors if they are to reach the national tournament for the first time in program history. Midland owns a 10-match win streak within conference regular season action.
· During the active four-match win streak, Concordia has claimed victories over Morningside, 4-3, Mount Marty, 6-1, NCAA Division III Central College (Iowa), 7-0, and Northwestern, 6-1. Another two nonconference contests remain on the slate – April 19 at Kansas Wesleyan University and April 20 versus Nebraska Wesleyan. A tough schedule seems to have prepared the Bulldogs well for GPAC play. They started out 0-4 before winning six of the next eight. As part of the out of conference schedule, Concordia took on one of the nation’s top JUCO programs and played an NCAA Division II foe.
· This past week was the most dominant one yet for the Concordia men. They combined to 16-2 in singles and 9-0 in doubles. In singles action, three Bulldogs were a perfect 3-0 last week: Joe Bindl, Shawn Springer and Juan Rabellino. Bindl also went 3-0 in doubles while pairing up with three different teammates. Long actually used seven different doubles combinations last week with spotless results. In the white washing of Mount Marty, Concordia won all three doubles decisions by 6-0 scores.
· On the season, the men’s team is a combined 38-34 (.528) in singles and 23-13 (.639) in doubles. From a results standpoint, the top doubles combos for the Bulldogs have been Eduardo Luzzi and Rabellino (6-2) and Berryman and Bindl (6-2). In singles competition, Isaac Howes is the lone Concordia player to have appeared in all 12 matches. He’s now 6-6 this season. Five other Bulldogs have at least four singles wins this season: Springer (5-5), Bindl (5-6), Berryman (4-2), Rabellino (4-3) and Jack Kitson (4-4).
· Wednesday’s opponent, Hastings, was ranked fifth in the most recent GPAC rating. The Broncos are 1-1 within conference play having defeated Mount Marty, 6-1, and lost at the hands of Doane, 7-0. The Broncos went 4-11 (2-4 GPAC) last season. On Saturday, Concordia will take its shot at Midland, a team that is receiving votes nationally. The Warriors tested themselves in the month of March against two nationally ranked foes and has since rolled through their first three matches inside the conference. Midland has regularly finished atop the GPAC in recent seasons.
Next week
The Bulldogs will close out conference play on April 12 with a visit to Doane. It will be the only match on next week’s slate.
Bulldogs blanked by reigning GPAC champions Apr. 9, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – At least so far this season, Midland is again proving to by a rung above the competition within the GPAC. In action in Seward on Saturday (April 9), the Warriors swept through doubles and singles on the way to a 7-0 win over the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team. The loss snapped a four-match win streak for the Bulldogs.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad had been off since the previous Saturday due to a postponement in the schedule. Concordia slipped to 6-7 overall (3-1 GPAC).
“We got out to a slow start in both singles and doubles,” Long said. “Overall, I think we played well at many spots, but we dug too deep of a hole to overcome.”
Anyone in the league hoping to upset Midland (receiving votes nationally) will have to be at the top of its game. The Bulldogs had their best shot at winning a match at the No. 1 doubles spot, where the duo of Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino came up short, 7-5. Midland won more comfortably at the Nos. 2 and 3 spots, taking them, 6-1, and, 6-3, respectively.
In singles, Concordia’s Shawn Springer came back to win the second set at No. 3 before falling in the tiebreaker. At the top two spots, Luzzi (2-6, 4-6) and Isaac Howes (2-6, 5-7) put up a fight despite coming up on the short end. The rest of the Bulldog singles lineup included Eduardo Rojas at No. 4, Jack Kitson at No. 5 and Joe Bindl at No. 6.
Since the start of last season, Midland remains the only GPAC squad to defeat Concordia. Over their first four GPAC matches of 2022, the Warriors (15-4, 4-0 GPAC) have won three times by 7-0 scores and once by a 6-1 final.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. CT matchup at Doane (8-4, 3-0 GPAC). The Tigers remained unbeaten within the GPAC while defeating Morningside, 6-1, on Saturday. During the 2021 season, Concordia twice edged Doane – once in the regular season and once in the GPAC tournament semifinals.
GPAC slate to wrap up this week at Doane, Hastings Apr. 11, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – By the middle of this week, the Concordia University Tennis team will have completed its conference regular season slate. The Bulldogs are readying to play at Doane on Tuesday and at Hastings on Wednesday. Originally, the match at Hastings had been scheduled for April 6, but was postponed due inclement weather. Concordia is looking to get back into the win column after a home loss to Midland over the weekend. Head Coach Cam Long’s squad stands at 6-7 overall (3-1 GPAC).
This Week
Tuesday, April 12 at Doane (8-4, 3-0 GPAC), 4 p.m.
Wednesday, April 13 at Hastings (3-6, 1-1 GPAC), 1 p.m.
By the numbers
· The 7-0 defeat at Midland snapped the Bulldogs’ four-match win streak. The streak included victories over Morningside, Mount Marty, NCAA Division III Central College and Northwestern. In the current GPAC standings, Concordia trails Midland (4-0) and Doane (3-0). The Bulldogs could still potentially earn a share of the conference regular season championship, but they would need to win twice this week and have Midland get upset by either Hastings or Doane. The Concordia men’s program is sill searching for its first-ever GPAC title.
· Dating back to the start of the 2021 season, Concordia is 9-3 against GPAC competition with all three losses being dealt by Midland. The Bulldogs had their best shot at winning a match last week at the No. 1 doubles spot, where the duo of Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino came up short, 7-5. Midland won more comfortably at the Nos. 2 and 3 spots, taking them, 6-1, and, 6-3, respectively. In singles action versus Midland, Concordia’s Shawn Springer came back to win the second set at No. 3 before falling in the tiebreaker. At the top two spots, Luzzi (2-6, 4-6) and Isaac Howes (2-6, 5-7) put up a fight despite coming up on the short end.
· Collectively this season, the Bulldogs have produced records of 38-40 in singles and 23-16 in doubles. Rabellino has gone 3-0 in GPAC singles matches while playing towards the back end of the lineup. The team’s overall singles wins leader is Howes, who is 6-7. Joe Bindl is close behind with five wins. In doubles, the duo of Luzzi and Rabellino is 6-3 while Jeremiah Berryman and Bindl are 6-4.
· Doane will be attempting to keep its own GPAC championship hopes alive. The Tigers have started out 3-0 in the GPAC with wins over Hastings, Northwestern and Morningside. Doane will also be looking for a measure of revenge after falling twice to Concordia last season. One of those losses came in the semifinals of the GPAC tournament. Hastings will be playing at Midland on Tuesday before hosting the Bulldogs on Wednesday. The Broncos are 1-1 in GPAC play with a win over Mount Marty and a loss to Doane. Concordia won last season’s matchup over Hastings, 6-1, in Seward.
Next week
The season will continue next week with a pair of nonconference matches – April 19 at Kansas Wesleyan University and April 20 versus Nebraska Wesleyan University. The home match on April 20 will serve as senior day.
Hopes for top-two GPAC seed remain alive with victory at Hastings Apr. 13, 2022
HASTINGS, Neb. – Conference play is nearly in the books for a Concordia University Men’s Tennis team still hopeful of grabbing a top-two seed in the GPAC and earning a bye in the conference tournament. In Wednesday (April 13)’s indoor match at Hastings, the Bulldogs recovered from a deficit after doubles and won, 5-2. Concordia rebounded by winning five singles matches, including three decided in three sets. Eduardo Rojas triumphed in both doubles and singles.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad played without a key part of the lineup and had the momentum going against it early on. However, the Bulldogs managed to turn the tide and get to 4-1 in the GPAC (7-7 overall).
“We didn’t play our best today. Hastings challenged us both mentally and physically,” Long said. “They really frustrated us for the first part of the match, but it was a good team win. We were short-handed after some injuries, but we fought through it and got the victory.”
It’s been rare for Concordia to be on the losing side of doubles play this season, but that was the case on Wednesday when the Broncos edged the Bulldogs, 6-4, at both the Nos. 1 and 2 spots. At the No. 3 position, the Concordia duo of Rojas and Shawn Springer emerged with a 6-2 win. The Bulldogs mixed things up in doubles with Eduardo Luzzi sidelined.
With four singles matches still on the court, the Bulldogs trailed by a 2-1 team score. The next three singles contests to go final – Nos. 4, 1 and 5 – all went Concordia’s way, clinching the team win. It wasn’t easy. At the top of the lineup, No. 1 Bulldog Isaac Howes won (3-6, 6-4, 6-1) after dropping the first set and Juan Rabellino held off his opponent in three sets at No. 5. The only real breather was at No. 4, where Joe Bindl breezed, 6-0, 6-0. Additional singles wins for the Bulldogs came from Rojas at No. 3 (6-4, 6-1) and Manuel Rodriguez (6-7, 6-3, 1-0) at No. 6. Rodriguez is 5-0 on the season in singles play.
Hastings (3-8, 1-3 GPAC) was looking for its second win of the conference season. The Broncos still figure to qualify for the six-team conference tournament. As for Concordia, it would have already finished the GPAC regular season if not for Tuesday’s match at Doane not being interrupted by severe weather. It will be finished on a date to be determined.
Next up on the schedule is next Tuesday (April 19)’s makeup nonconference match at Kansas Wesleyan University. First serve is slated for 10 a.m. CT from Salina Central High School in Salina, Kan. The suspended match at Doane may also end up being completed next week. The most updated schedule can be found HERE .
Bulldogs to honor four seniors as part of regular season’s final week Apr. 18, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – The final week of the regular season has arrived for the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team. The Bulldogs enter the week with a shot at sharing the GPAC regular season title, an accomplishment that would require Concordia to defeat Doane on Thursday and then have Doane upset Midland on Sunday. Head Coach Cam Long’s squad picked up a 5-2 win last week at Hastings and improved to 4-1 in conference play (7-7 overall). This week’s slate includes two nonconference matches and the completion of the suspended match at Doane.
On Wednesday night, the Bulldogs will honor four seniors prior to first serve against Nebraska Wesleyan. The senior group includes Jeremiah Berryman (fifth year), Joe Bindl, Isaac Howes and Jack Kitson.
This Week
Tuesday, April 19 at Kansas Wesleyan (7-6), 10 a.m. - CANCELED (as of April 18)
Wednesday, April 20 vs. Nebraska Wesleyan (3-7), 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 21 at Doane (8-5, 3-0 GPAC), 5:30 p.m.
By the numbers
· At 4-1 in league play, Concordia will finish no worse than third place in the final GPAC regular season standings. A top-two placement comes with the reward of earning a bye in the first round of the six-team conference tournament. The Bulldogs hope to return to the GPAC tournament final for the second year in a row. Last season’s squad earned the No. 2 seed and wound up falling to Midland in the championship match. Concordia’s four GPAC wins this season have come over Morningside, 4-3, Mount Marty, 6-1, Northwestern, 6-1, and Hastings, 5-2.
· The senior class played a big part in leading the 2021 team to the GPAC championship match, a feat that had not previously been accomplished in program history. The quartet of Berryman, Bindl, Howes and Kitson has combined for 104 career singles wins in dual matches. Howes leads the group with 34 career wins while followed by Berryman (31), Bindl (22) and Kitson (17). From a team perspective, the Bulldogs have gone a combined 33-27 overall and 12-5 in GPAC matches since the start of the 2019 season.
· In the suspended match at Doane (interrupted due to severe weather on April 12), Concordia swept through competitive doubles matches before falling at the Nos. 1 and 3 singles spots. That puts the Tigers in front, 2-1, with them also up a set at Nos. 4 and 5. The next day, the Bulldogs came back from a rare deficit after doubles and won five of six singles matches at Hastings. The victors included Howes at No. 1, Eduardo Rojas at No. 3, Bindl at No. 4, Juan Rabellino at No. 5 and Manuel Rodriguez at No. 6. Concordia won three matches that went to a third set.
· Collectively through 14 matches in 2021-22, the Bulldogs have produced records of 43-41 in singles and 24-18 in doubles. Five Concordia players own at least five singles wins: Howes (7-7), Bindl (6-7), Rodriguez (5-0), Rabellino (5-3) and Shawn Springer (5-7). In doubles, Eduardo Luzzi and Rabellino have gone 6-3 as partners. In addition, Berryman and Bindl have gone 6-5 as a doubles pair.
· Kansas Wesleyan enters this week at 7-6 overall. The Coyotes compete as a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. An NCAA Division III member, Nebraska Wesleyan sports a record of 3-7 overall. The Bulldogs last played the Prairie Wolves in 2019 and came away with a 9-0 win in Lincoln. Doane is 3-0 in conference play and is getting ready to take on Mount Marty and Midland this week, in addition to completing the suspended match with Concordia.
Next week
The GPAC Tennis Championships will take place April 29-30 at Fremont High School. Concordia has secured a spot in the postseason and will be no worse than the No. 3 seed in the GPAC.
Bulldogs roll Nebraska Wesleyan on Senior Day Apr. 20, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – As part of a successful Senior Day, the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team rolled through Nebraska Wesleyan University on Wednesday (April 20). All four seniors contributed in what amounted to a 7-0 victory in a match played inside the Fieldhouse (due to wet outdoor courts). Isaac Howes and Shawn Springer were winners in both doubles and singles.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad has moved to 8-7 overall this season with only the completion of a suspended GPAC match remaining in the regular season. The quartet of Howes, Jeremiah Berryman, Joe Bindl and Jack Kitson has been a constant for the program over the past four seasons.
Said Howes, “It’s surreal because I’ve enjoyed all four years playing with Jack, Joe and Jeremy. It’s been great. We’ve really created a lot of leaders and put a lot of effort into it these last few seasons. We set a record last season by making the (GPAC) final. Looking back at all that – I thought about it today – and I’m happy with how we’ve played. It’s not over yet – we’ve got conference play just ahead of us.”
The connectedness of the Bulldogs has been on display throughout this season in their doubles performances. Concordia won all three doubles matches by 6-3 scores on Wednesday. The duos were made up of Eduardo Luzzi and Juan Rabellino at No. 1, Jack Kitson and Shawn Springer at No. 2 and Jeremiah Berryman and Isaac Howes at No. 3.
Concordia carried those strong efforts over into a singles sweep. No tiebreakers or third sets were necessary. Howes took care of his counterpart at No. 1, 6-2, 6-4. The rest of the singles victors for the Bulldogs were Springer at No. 2, Bindl at No. 3, Eduardo Rojas at No. 4, Manuel Rodriguez at No. 5 and Luke Johnson at No. 6. Rodriguez dominated with a perfect result of 6-0, 6-0.
Formerly a GPAC member, Nebraska Wesleyan (3-9) now competes as a member of the American Rivers Conference in NCAA Division III. The Prairie Wolves dropped a 5-2 decision at Doane on Tuesday.
In the final action of the regular season, the Bulldogs will be at Doane on Thursday to complete the suspended match that was interrupted by severe weather on April 12. The contest is slated to resume at 5:30 p.m. CT from Crete, Neb. Before the match was put on hold, Concordia swept through doubles before Doane won at the Nos. 1 and 3 singles spots. Four singles matches are yet to be completed.
Finish to suspended match at Doane results in 5-2 loss Apr. 21, 2022
CRETE, Neb. – While resuming a suspended match that had begun on April 12, the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team couldn’t seal the deal in singles play. The result was a 5-2 loss at Doane as the match concluded in Crete, Neb., on Thursday (April 21). The Bulldogs had swept through doubles play before dropping five of six singles matches.
The defeat means that Head Coach Cam Long’s squad missed out on an opportunity to claim a bye in the GPAC tournament. Concordia concluded the regular season at 4-2 in the GPAC (8-8 overall).
Throughout the season, strong doubles play has been a theme. The Bulldogs took all three doubles matches when they were contested on April 12. The victorious combos were Jeremiah Berryman and Joe Bindl at No. 1 (6-4), Jack Kitson and Juan Rabellino at No. 2 (6-4) and Eduardo Rojas and Shawn Springer at No. 3 (7-5). As evidenced by the scores, all three were close battles.
Springer managed to pull out a victory in three sets (5-7, 6-3, 6-2) at No. 2 singles. Entering the day, Doane had already claimed wins at the Nos. 1 and 3 singles spots. With the team scored tied 2-2 after Springer’s win, the Tigers clinched the team victory by taking decisions at the Nos. 4 and 5 positions. Kitson came up short in a tiebreaker in the second set. In addition, Doane won a third-set tiebreaker at the No. 6 spot.
The victory for the Tigers (11-5, 5-0 GPAC) means they will play Midland (5-0 GPAC) for a chance at winning the conference regular season title on Sunday. Concordia had twice beaten Doane last season, including once in the conference semifinals.
The GPAC tournament is up next. It will run April 29-30 at Fremont High School in Fremont, Neb. The result against Doane will slot the Bulldogs into the No. 3 seed in the GPAC tournament. The top two seeds earn byes while the teams seeded 3 through 6 play in the quarterfinal round.
Preview: 2022 GPAC Men's Tennis Tournament Apr. 26, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – The slate gets wiped clean on Friday when the 2022 GPAC tournament gets underway from the Fremont, Neb., YMCA. As the No. 3 seed, the Concordia University Men’s Tennis team will take on sixth-seeded Northwestern at 1:30 p.m. CT in Friday’s quarterfinal round. The Bulldogs will attempt to get back to the conference championship match after playing in the 2021 GPAC final. Head Coach Cam Long’s squad wrapped up the regular season with an overall record of 8-8 (4-2 GPAC). An automatic bid to nationals will be rewarded to the GPAC tournament champion.
GPAC Pairings
NOTE: The conference tournament location was moved indoors to the Fremont YMCA due to projected rain this weekend.
Friday, April 29 – Quarterfinals
Friday, April 29 – Semifinals
Saturday, April 30 – Championship
By the numbers
· The regular season concluded last week as the Bulldogs routed former GPAC rival Nebraska Wesleyan University, 7-0, on April 20 and then fell at Doane, 5-2, in the completion of a match that had started on April 12 (suspended due to severe weather). After honoring four seniors prior to the start of the Nebraska Wesleyan match, Concordia swept through doubles and singles play. Seniors Jeremiah Berryman, Joe Bindl, Isaac Howes and Jack Kitson all contributed in the victory. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs slipped up at Doane with the GPAC’s No. 2 seed on the line. Concordia had twice beaten the Tigers in 2021.
· That senior class has made a considerable impact on the program. The quartet has combined for 106 career singles wins in dual matches. Howes leads the group with 35 career wins while followed by Berryman (31), Bindl (23) and Kitson (17). From a team perspective, the Bulldogs have gone a combined 34-28 overall and 12-6 in GPAC matches since the start of the 2019 season. They helped take the program to unchartered waters last spring when Concordia made its first-ever appearance in the GPAC tournament championship match.
· During the 2022 regular season, the Bulldogs earned GPAC wins over Morningside, 4-3, Mount Marty, 6-1, Northwestern, 6-1, and Hastings, 5-2. The two conference losses came at the hands of Doane, 5-2, and Midland, 7-0. Dating back to the start of last season, Concordia has gone a combined 9-3 in conference regular season matches. The Warriors have been responsible for two of those three defeats.
· The 2021 Bulldogs made program history in reaching the GPAC tournament final. They got there thanks to a bye in the quarterfinals and then a 4-2 semifinal win over Doane. During the GPAC era (2000-present), Concordia has advanced to at least the semifinal round a total of nine times. One of the squads to accomplish that feat was the 2010 squad that went 14-6 overall and owns the program record for most wins in a season. The program has notched 10 or more overall victories seven times during the GPAC era.
· Collectively, the Bulldogs have gone a combined 30-18 in doubles and 50-46 in singles matches this season. Six Concordia players have collected at least five singles wins: Isaac Howes (8-8), Joe Bindl (7-8), Shawn Springer (7-7), Manuel Rodriguez (6-0), Juan Rabellino (5-4) and Eduardo Rojas (5-7). The most successful doubles combo has been Luzzi and Rabellino, who have gone 7-3 as partners.
· A potential return to the GPAC tournament final will first have to go through Northwestern in the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs had their way with the Red Raiders when the two sides met in Seward on April 2. The result was a 6-1 decision in Concordia’s favor. The Bulldogs won every match with the exception of No. 4 singles. Should Concordia get past Northwestern, it would set up a matchup with Doane. The Bulldogs defeated the Tigers in the 2021 semifinals.
NAIA National Championships
The 2022 NAIA Men’s Tennis National Championships will run May 17-21 at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala. More details on the national tournament can be found HERE .
Bulldogs come up short in bid for second-straight GPAC title appearance Apr. 29, 2022
FREMONT, Neb. – The opportunity to return to the GPAC tournament championship match depended upon beating Doane in the semifinal round on Friday (April 29) night. The Bulldogs came up short of that pursuit while falling at the hands of the Tigers, 4-1, in a match contested inside the YMCA of Fremont, Neb. Earlier in the day, Concordia toppled Northwestern, 4-1, in the GPAC quarterfinals. On the day, Bulldogs combined for four singles and three doubles wins.
That concludes the first year of Cam Long’s tenure as head coach. Concordia went 9-9 overall and placed third in the GPAC regular season standings in 2022.
Said Long, “I was impressed with Northwestern. I know they were motivated to come out and beat us, and they played really well. They played well enough to win, but we were focused on the job that needed to be done. That’s why we were able to win even though they gave us a good fight.
“Against Doane, I think we played well enough to win. When you play a solid team like that it doesn’t always go your way. A couple points here and there and it could have been a totally different match. It’s frustrating, but we showed up for the tournament. It’s not that we didn’t play well.”
In the quarterfinal win over the Red Raiders (9-9), Eduardo Luzzi clinched the team’s advancement when he defeated Brian Vandenberg in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 6-0, at the No. 1 spot. Prior to that result, Eduardo Rojas won at No. 2 (7-5, 6-0) and Joe Bindl won at No. 3 (6-4, 6-4), putting the Bulldogs in position to claim victory. In doubles, winners were Bindl and Jeremiah Berryman at No. 2 (6-4) and Jack Kitson and Shawn Springer at No. 3 (6-1). Concordia had beaten Northwestern in the regular season, 6-1.
That set up another clash with rival Doane. The two sides also met in the 2021 conference semifinals. This time around, the Tigers got the upper hand in doubles and rode that momentum to victory. Concordia took a 6-1 decision at No. 3 doubles (Kitson and Springer) but came up short at the Nos. 1 and 2 spots. The Tigers then clinched the victory by triumphing in singles at the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 positions. The one team point for the Bulldogs was put up thanks to Kitson’s 7-5, 6-0, win at No. 5 singles.
The singles lineup against Doane also included Luzzi at No. 1, Isaac Howes at No. 2, Springer at No. 3, Rojas at No. 4 and Juan Rabellino at No. 6. Concordia used the exact same doubles pairs in both of Friday’s matches.
This was the swan song for a senior class that included a close-knit crew of Berryman, Bindl, Howes and Kitson. Together they combine for more than 100 career singles wins in duals matches and led the program to the GPAC tournament title match in 2021. The graduation of the seniors will leave a significant void in the lineup as the Bulldogs look ahead to 2022-23.
Said Long, “I just told them at the end that I hope they realize what they’ve done. They’ve all played a big part in a really big role the last four years. They survived coaching changes and still led the program to some of the best teams we’ve ever had. They’re the ones that made it possible. It’s not any one coach or person. Those four worked together and were good leaders. I’m really happy to have crossed paths. As a first-year head coach it really helped to have guys like that to help lead. They made a big difference.”
Howes and Luzzi highlight all-conference award winners May 13, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – Five Bulldogs from the 2022 GPAC semifinalist Concordia University Men’s Tennis have earned all-conference recognition, as announced by the GPAC on Friday (May 13). In highlighting the selections for the Bulldogs, Isaac Howes and Eduardo Luzzi both landed all-conference singles accolades. In addition, Jeremiah Berryman, Joe Bindl and Juan Rabellino collected some form of All-GPAC laurels while helping lead Head Coach Cam Long’s squad.
2022 All-GPAC
· Jeremiah Berryman (Broken Arrow, Okla.): Honorable Mention Doubles
o 2022 GPAC records: 1-0 singles | 4-2 doubles
· Joe Bindl (Papillion, Neb.): Honorable Mention Singles/Doubles
o 2022 GPAC records: 3-3 singles | 4-2 doubles
· Isaac Howes (Shawnee, Kan.): No. 2 Singles
o 2022 GPAC records: 3-3 singles | 1-0 doubles
· Eduardo Luzzi (Belo Horizonte, Brazil): No. 1 Singles / Honorable Mention Doubles
o 2022 GPAC records: 2-1 singles | 3-1 doubles
· Juan Rabellino (La Barra, Uruguay): Honorable Mention Doubles
o 2022 GPAC records: 4-1 singles | 4-2 doubles
Seniors Berryman, Bindl, Howes and Jack Kitson were instrumental in leading the program to a GPAC tournament championship match appearance in 2021. Among the 2022 all-conference honorees, Howes leads the way with 35 career singles wins followed by Berryman with 31 and Bindl with 24. Berryman also compiled 44 career doubles wins, a total that broke the previous school record of 40 by Jeremy Jank from 2009-12. Meanwhile, Bindl collected 26 career doubles wins and Howes notched 17. Berryman has raked in all-conference honors in four separate seasons while Howes has done so in three seasons and Bindl in two.
A freshman in 2022, Luzzi helped solidify the top of the lineup. He went 3-5 overall in singles matches this past season. He often teamed up in doubles with Rabellino. Together the pair combined for a 7-4 overall doubles record.
Long’s squad finished the season at 9-9 overall and at 4-2 in the GPAC (third place). The Bulldogs earned a 4-1 GPAC tournament quarterfinal win over Northwestern before falling to Doane in the semifinals.
Bindl awarded CoSIDA Academic All-District honors for second-straight year May 20, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – For the second year in a row, Joe Bindl has represented Concordia University Tennis with 2021-22 Academic All-District® Men's At-Large Team distinction, as announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday (May 19). The “At-Large” category includes student-athletes from tennis and a variety of other intercollegiate sports. Bindl landed on the All-District 3 squad, which features award winners from the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The 2021-22 Academic All-District® Men's and Women's At-Large Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Not only a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District award winner, Bindl has been named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and was recognized as a GPAC All-Conference honoree in both 2021 and 2022. Bindl graduated with his degree in Accounting while sporting a nearly spotless cumulative grade-point average of 3.99. As part of his tennis career, Bindl helped the Bulldogs reach the GPAC championship match in 2021 (first time ever) and then the conference semifinals in 2022. Over four seasons as a Bulldog, Bindl compiled career records of 24-17 in singles and 26-20 in doubles.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in June.
Bindl honored as CoSIDA Academic All-American Jun. 14, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – A two-time Academic All-District award winner, Concordia University Tennis student-athlete Joe Bindl has garnered a more prestigious honor. As announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Tuesday (June 14), Bindl has been named to the organization’s 2022 Academic All-America® Men’s At-Large Second Team for the NAIA. The “At-Large” category includes student-athletes from tennis and a variety of other intercollegiate sports. There were 20 NAIA student-athletes recognized as either first or second team Academic All-Americans.
The 2021-22 Academic All-America® Men's and Women's At-Large Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Not only a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District and 2022 Academic All-America award winner, Bindl has been named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and was recognized as a GPAC All-Conference honoree in both 2021 and 2022. Bindl graduated with his degree in Accounting while sporting a nearly spotless cumulative grade-point average of 3.99. As part of his tennis career, Bindl helped the Bulldogs reach the GPAC championship match in 2021 (first time ever) and then the conference semifinals in 2022. Over four seasons as a Bulldog, Bindl compiled career records of 24-17 in singles and 26-20 in doubles.
Bindl is the second student-athlete in Concordia Tennis program history to earn the CoSIDA Academic All-District award and the first in program annals to be chosen as an Academic All-American. Luke Zoller garnered Academic All-District recognition in 2019.
Eights Bulldogs recognized as Scholar-Athletes by ITA Jul. 14, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Men’s Tennis program and eight of its team members were honored on Thursday (July 14) by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). The organization recognized Head Coach Cam Long’s Bulldogs as an All-Academic Team for 2021-22 while eight individuals were lauded with ITA Scholar-Athlete accolades.
2022 ITA Scholar-Athletes:
· Jeremiah Berryman (Broken Arrow, Okla.)
· Joe Bindl (Papillion, Neb.)
· Luke Johnson (Kansas City, Kan.)
· Jack Kitson (Omaha, Neb.)
· Eduardo Luzzi (Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
· Juan Rabellino (La Barra, Uruguay)
· Manuel Rodriguez (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain)
· Shawn Springer (Aurora, Colo.)
To be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, one must meet the following requirements:
· Have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year.
· Be listed on the institutional eligibility form.
· Have a team grade point average of 3.2 or above (on a 4.00 scale).
· All student-athletes included should be listed on the institutional eligibility form.
· All varsity letter winners should be factored into the cumulative team GPA for the current academic year.