2023-24 Men's Tennis Schedule/Results

8-13 overall | 2-4 GPAC (T-5th) | Season Stats | Roster

Date	Opponent	Location	Time/Result	Record
Sept. 8- 9	Bethany College (Kan.) Tournament	Lindsborg, Kan.	4 p.m. \| 9 a.m.
Sept. 15-16	GPAC Fall Individual Tournament	Woods Tennis Center \| Lincoln, Neb.	9 a.m.
Sept. 24-26	NAIA Central-West ITA Regional	Salina, Kan.	9 a.m.
Sept. 24-26	Kansas Wesleyan Invitational	Salina, Kan.	9 a.m.
Oct. 3	Mount Marty University	Seward, Neb. \| Walz Fieldhouse	L, 1-6	0-1
Oct. 7	William Jewell College (Mo.)	Liberty, Mo.	L, 0-7	0-2
Feb. 2	Ottawa University (Kan.)	Lawrence, Kan. \| Genisis Health Club South	L, 0-7	0-3
Feb. 9	Mount Marty University	Yankton, S.D.	L, 0-7	0-4
Feb. 10	Baker University (Kan.)	Fremont, Neb. \| YMCA	W, 5-2	1-4
Feb. 17	Tabor College (Kan.)	Seward, Neb. \| Walz Fieldhouse	W, 5-2	2-4
Feb. 22	Kansas Wesleyan University	Grand Island, Neb. \| Grand Island TC	L, 0-7	2-5
Feb. 29	University of Saint Mary (Kan.)	Kansas City, Mo \| Genesis HC-Clayview	W, 5-2	3-5
March 2	Sterling College (Kan.)	Seward, Neb. \| Outdoor Tennis Center	W, 4-3	4-5
March 3	Iowa Central Community College	Seward, Neb. \| Outdoor Tennis Center	L, 0-7	4-6
March 5	Mount Marty University	Lincoln, Neb. \| Woods Tennis Center	L, 2-5	4-7, 0-1
March 15	Central College (Iowa)	Seward, Neb. \| Outdoor Tennis Center	W, 6-1	5-7
March 16	Midland University	Fremont, Neb.	L, 1-6	5-8
March 22	*Morningside University	Sioux City, Iowa	L, 0-7	5-9, 0-2
March 24	University of Nebraska Kearney	Kearney, Neb.	L, 0-7	5-10
April 6	*Northwestern College	Seward, Neb. \| Walz Fieldhouse	W, 4-3	6-10, 1-2
April 10	*Doane University	Crete, Neb.	L, 1-6	6-11, 1-3
April 13	Wartburg College (Iowa)	Seward, Neb. \| Outdoor Tennis Center	W, 4-3	7-11
April 16	*Midland University	Seward, Neb. \| Walz Fieldhouse	L, 2-5	7-12, 1-4
April 20	*Hastings College	Hastings, Neb.	W, 6-1	8-12, 2-4
	GPAC Men's Tennis Tournament
April 26	Doane (Quarterfinals)	South Sioux City, Neb. \| First Serve TC	L, 0-4	8-13

2023-24 Roster

Name	Ht.	Yr.	Hometown	Previous School
Santiago Abadia	5-9	So.	Bogota, Colombia	Colegio Nueva York
Michael Bedrosian	5-8	Fr.	Fowler, Calif.	Sanger HS
Hugo Fuentes	6-0	So.	Denia, Spain	IES Sorts De La Mar
Luke Johnson	5-9	Jr.	Kansas City, Kan.	Shawnee Mission North HS
Mitch Krumm	5-8	Fr.	Wichita, Kan.	Maize South HS
Ethan Phinney	5-11	Fr.	York, Neb.	York HS
Manuel Rodriguez Berdud	5-11	Jr.	Jerez de la Frontera, Spain	La Salle Buen Pastor
Grady Works	6-0	Jr.	Lincoln, Neb.	Lincoln Southwest HS

STAFF

Lisa Hart, Head Coach (1st Year)

Jorge Chevez, Assistant Coach

Season Preview: 2024 Concordia Men’s Tennis

January 15

Head Coach: Lisa Hart (1st season at Concordia; 22nd season overall as a college head coach)
2022-23 record: 12-9 overall, 3-3 GPAC (4th)
Key returners: Santiago Abadia (So.); Hugo Fuentes (So.); Luke Johnson (Sr.); Manuel Rodriguez (Jr.).
Key losses: Juan Rabellino; Eduardo Rojas; Shawn Springer.
Newcomers: Michael Bedrosian; Mitch Krumm; Ethan Phinney; Grady Works.
2023 GPAC All-Conference: Hugo Fuentes (HM singles/doubles); Manuel Rodriguez (singles); Juan Rabellino (HM singles/doubles); Eduardo Rojas (HM singles); Shawn Springer (HM doubles); Thomas van Haaren (HM singles/doubles).

Outlook

The announcement that came out of Concordia Athletics on Aug. 8, 2023, likely raised some eyebrows. Formerly the head coach of the women’s tennis programs at Virginia Tech and Washington State University, Lisa Hart was tabbed to fill the vacancy at Concordia. It’s a new type of challenge for Hart, a 21-year head coaching veteran and a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum. Most recently the Associate Head Women’s Tennis Coach for the Cornhuskers, Hart didn’t have to go far to find Seward.

The position interested Hart because she saw strong administrative leadership in place and a strong Christian environment conducive to attracting top student-athletes. There’s potential for Concordia Tennis to blow up in a big way.

“I’m really enjoying it,” Hart said. “I keep waiting for things to change, but everyone is so incredibly nice and supportive. They’ve been that way since day one. It’s been a breath of fresh air. We have amazing student-athletes to work with – very appreciative, hard-working. The competition is going to be great this year. We just want to keep trying to improve a little bit every day and maximize our potential on and off the court.”

Hart has taken on a men’s program that finished the 2022-23 season at 12-9 overall and in fourth place in the GPAC. The 12 wins were the most for the program since it went 14-6 in 2010. The Bulldogs hope to build upon that success with a decidedly youthful roster that features one lone senior, Luke Johnson. The returning group also includes All-GPAC honorees in Hugo Fuentes and Manuel Rodriguez. Now sophomores, Fuentes and Santiago Abadia were regulars in the lineup as freshmen. Meanwhile, Rodriguez paced last season’s squad with a 14-5 singles mark.

Hart got a chance to see what these Bulldogs looked like in action during the fall portion of the 2023-24 campaign. The fall slate featured three weekends of tournament play and a pair of dual meets. Concordia endured losses to Mount Marty and NCAA Division II William Jewell College (Mo.) that it hopes it can learn from moving forward. There’s main takeaway from the fall that sticks with the Kansas City native Johnson.

Said the Biology major, “Talking about the fire Coach Hart brings to the team, our matches in the fall would be my highlight. There was a lot of energy as a team. There’s more watching of teammates and cheering teammates on. This year, there’s a loudness to our team. That’s something I’ve really appreciated and noticed. There’s an energy to our team.”

The trio of Abadia, Fuentes and Rodriguez combined last season for 29 singles wins and 23 doubles victories. They are joined on the 2023-24 roster by four newcomers: Michael Bedrosian (Fowler, Calif.), Mitch Krumm (Wichita, Kan.), Ethan Phinney (York, Neb.) and Grady Works (Lincoln, Neb.). Both Bedrosian and Krumm found their names in the dual meet lineup this past fall. The signs have been positive as the team ramps things up with the start of the second semester.

“The men’s team is going to be really exciting to watch,” Hart said. “They have a lot of energy, a lot of fire on the court. They’re extremely coachable. We have the potential to beat anybody in the GPAC on the right day. We have a new player, Lincoln native Grady Works – we’re excited about him. He’s joining us this semester. He played at a high level in junior tennis before taking the last couple years off. We expect that he’ll contribute for us. Luke provides this maturity on the court. We’re excited for his leadership. One through eight, they’re all going to be very important to our success.”

In the early stages of her tenure at Concordia, Hart is talking more about the process that it takes to reach a higher level, rather than discussing hopes of winning championships. The focus is on individual improvement that will translate into overall team improvement. The program has appeared in the GPAC tournament championship match as recently as 2021, however, the Bulldogs have never celebrated a conference title during the GPAC era.

Johnson may only have one season with Hart, but he’s relishing the opportunity to make 2024 the best it can possibly be while also laying the groundwork for future success.

Says Johnson, “Our team has a lot of good youth. It’s a pretty young team. I’m the only senior and not many juniors. There’s a lot of youth, and with Coach Hart, I’m excited to see how this team can develop in the next couple of years. As far as this year, getting in a lot of those tournaments was helpful. We have a lot of matches coming up in the spring. The more comfortable we can get before conference play, that will definitely help get us in the right mindset.”

The 2023-24 season will resume on Feb. 2 when the Bulldogs will take on Ottawa University (Kan.). The 2024 spring slate will be heavy on clashes with members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. GPAC play is slated to get started in late March and will continue through the month of April. The GPAC Tennis Championships will move to Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, this year. Concordia and its GPAC rivals will attempt to dethrone Midland for the title.

The Bulldogs will soon find out where they stand. Says Hart, “I think we have a really good foundation in place with the players we have in the program. We want to continue to get better and be a little more competitive on the court. That’s going to be important. We want to make sure the players we recruit are the right fits for our program and our university. That’s a huge thing – making sure we have the right people on the bus so we can all pull in the same direction and make sure we maximize our abilities.”

View the complete Concordia Men’s Tennis schedule HERE.

Braves take control early over the Bulldogs

February 2

The Concordia men’s tennis team opened its spring season at Genesis Health Club-South on Friday (Feb. 2). Falling in a narrow loss for the doubles point, the Bulldogs couldn’t find their footing in the 7-0 loss against Ottawa University (Kan.). Santi Abadia and Manuel Rodriguez collected a victory (6-3) in their doubles square off against the Braves, sealing the lone set win. The team out of Kansas was receiving votes in the preseason poll.

CUNE faced two other opponents in the fall and has totaled a 0-3 overall record.

With one win already taken by Abadia and Rodriguez at No. 2s, Hugo Fuentes and Grady Works battled against Bernard Figueiredo and Jhoel Quinonez at No. 1s, falling 6-4 late to the Braves. At No. 3s, Michael Bedrosian and Mitch Krumm garnered a couple of games but dropped their match (6-2) to Santiago Tartaglia and Julian Toloza.

Rodriguez at No. 5 singles put up a tough fight in the first set, losing a heartbreaker to Ben Russell and putting the Braves up two points. The junior, out of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, caved by the skin of his teeth in the initial set tiebreaker, 7-6 (2-0), 6-0. Fuentes, at No. 1, was set to face Jarmo Perez and won five total games, but couldn’t string enough serve breaks together, dropping his match, 6-3, 6-2.

Ottawa won the other four matches in straight sets as well. The rest of the Bulldogs' singles lineup was Works at No. 2, Abadia at No. 3, Bedrosian at No. 4 and Krumm at No. 6.

Concordia (0-3) will take on fellow GPAC conference member Mount Marty (4-1) in Yankton, S.D. next Friday (Feb. 9). The Bulldogs will look to redeem themselves against the Lancers, as they fell 6-1 in the fall bout but lost in four separate tiebreak matches. With another match against Mount Marty set for Mar. 5, the next dual will not count towards the conference standings.

Bulldogs backed down by Lancers

Feburary 9

The Bulldogs traveled to face Mount Marty on Friday in Yankton, S.D. Concordia gave its all but lost early to the Lancers in a 0-7 shutout win for the home team. Many sets were pushed by Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad which couldn’t find the points needed in the end. The Bulldogs fall to 0-4 on the season and stay winless in their current campaign.

Hugo Fuentes and Grady Works went to battle Pablo Rivest and Oleksandr Makarov in the No. 1s match, dropping their doubles set (2-6) as well as Luke Johnson and Michael Bedrosian, both ending with the same score to allow Mount Marty to seal the doubles point. At No. 2s Manuel Rodriguez and Santi Abadia clashed with Alejandro Polo and Jose Andrade, unable to break the set in a 4-6 loss.

Abadia at No. 3 pushed his bout against Andrade to a third set but fell in a tiebreaker (6-3, 3-6, 0-7). The Bogotá, Colombia native has yet to find a singles victory in four duals, but took a doubles set with Rodriguez against Ottawa. As a mid-year enrollee, No. 2 Works competed in the first singles dual of his collegiate career and pushed Markarov to a competitive battle in both sets. The junior Lincoln Southwest product came out pushing the intensity but was unable to find the sixth game, falling (4-6, 4-6) in each.

No. 6 Mitch Krumm fell in his second collegiate dual match (1-6, 4-6) to Ignacio Gomez, while No. 4 Bedrosian (2-6, 2-6), No. 5 Rodriguez (0-6, 2-6) and No. 1 Fuentes (1-6, 2-6) all lost in straight sets as well.

Mount Marty is 5-1, having avenged its only loss to Northwestern with a decisive 6-1 win over the Red Raiders. They have won three straight since Oct. 3 and face Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato, Minn.) on Feb. 25.

Concordia (0-4) will have a quick turnaround to challenge Baker University (Kan.), set in Fremont, Neb. at the Fremont Family YMCA. The match is set to start at 11 a.m. CT.

Bulldogs trap Wildcats early in Fremont

Feburary 10

With a chance for Concordia to take a shorter trip to face Baker University (Kan.), the Bulldogs traveled to the Fremont Family YMCA on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 10). The men were winless coming into the dual but found ways to deliver a victory (5-2) over the Wildcats for their first win of the season. All the doubles matches were taken by the blue and white, as Manuel Rodriguez clinched the triumph in his match at No. 5.

Rodriguez and company are now 1-4 overall on the season. Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on seeing hard work come to fruition and how proud she was to see the energy of the guys throughout the competition.

“Our men have been working so hard and it is great to see it pay off today with a win. I loved the energy and passion our entire team competed with. I’m proud of our guys to keep pushing until we got the result we wanted.”

Santi Abadia and Rodriguez steamrolled Fabian Martinez and River Flaska in a 6-0 doubles set at No. 2s. Hugo Fuentes and Works at No. 1s, started their day with a 6-2 set victory defeating Juan Avila and Christ, taking their first as a pair.

With their No. 6 singles open, the Bulldogs launched out to a 2-0 lead early in the contest. Michael Bedrosian at No. 4, turned on the night light for Fabian Martinez, only surrendering one game in a 6-0, 6-1 route. The freshman out of Fowler, Calif., has a 2-3 singles dual record in his opening year. Up 3-0, Rodriguez captured the season's first prevalence. The Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, native secured the 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Jack Forrest in the clincher.

Abadia followed suit at No. 3, taking the first back breaking set (7-6) and wore down River in the second, (6-1) acquiring the win in straight sets.

Baker has lost seven consecutive matches, setting their record at 1-7 in its 2023-24 campaign. They will face the GPAC’s Hastings tomorrow (Feb. 11) to seek its first team victory.

Concordia (1-4) will host their first home match against Tabor College (1-1) on Saturday (Feb. 17). The Bulldogs and Bluejays will step on the courts in Seward, Neb. at noon CT.

Concordia protects home court versus Bluejays

Feburary 17

The Concordia Men’s Tennis team hosted their first dual since breaking into the new year, welcoming Tabor College into Walz Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs got ahead early in doubles and never surrendered the lead in the 5-2 triumph. Michael Bedrosian collected his third win in the No. 4 spot, going .500 this season. Three different Bulldogs went 2-0 on the day, including Santi Abadia, Manuel Rodriguez and Bedrosian. Concordia is 2-4 in its 2023-24 year.

With their first win at home, Head Coach Lisa Hart was all smiles after the match. “I’m proud of how the guys played today. Being able to win the doubles point was great to see and it sets you up well to claim the fourth point. We were up 3-2 with two guys left to play and Manuel did a really good job of controlling his match to seal the win.”

Rodriguez and Abadia at No 2s, fought off Stephano Moreano and Jake Goertzen for the first doubles set victory (6-2). With No. 1s falling to the Bluejays, Luke Johnson and Bedrosian needed to come up big to get ahead for the first point. The duo used home court advantage to clasp a 6-3 set, needing only three more to take the dual.

Rodriguez at No. 5, clinched the fourth team point, getting out in front of Carlos Robles in the first set (6-3). The La Salle Buen Pastor, product scorched his opponent in the second set (6-0) shutout. Before the win was sealed, No. 3 Abadia backhanded past Goertzen (6-1, 6-3) in straight sets.

As Bedrosian continued singles at No. 4, he fell in a heartbreaking first set (6-7), which took extra play for him to see defeat. The freshman out of Fowler, Calif., awoke as a sleeping giant, smashing through Moreano (6-2) in the second and took the win in the tiebreaker.

With the victory captured, Mitch Krumm kept the energy high, defeating John Ferley (6-1, 6-4) who tried to keep the match going in the second set.

Tabor drops to 2-2 overall and will look to rebound against Doane on Feb. 27, after taking a 10-day break. The Bluejays are used to winning in a clinch, having both their 4-3 victories over Hastings and Baker University (Kan.).

Concordia (2-4) will not get as big of a break, traveling to Grand Island, Neb. to dual Kansas Wesleyan University on Thursday (Feb. 22). First serve is set for 10 a.m. in the Grand Island Tennis Center.

Kansas Wesleyan too much for Concordia in Grand Island

Feburary 22

Concordia rolled over to the Grand Island Tennis Center and matched up with Kansas Wesleyan University on Thursday (Feb. 22). The Bulldogs tripped out of the gates and couldn’t find their footing in the 0-7 loss to the Coyotes. Santi Abadia and Manuel Rodriguez at No. 2 doubles were the only team to win in Grand Island. The Bulldogs are 2-5 on the season after having won their previous two duals.

Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on the team's consistent improvement and how Mitch Krumm and Manuel Rodriguez battled in their individual matches.

“The scores don’t show it today, but our team is making strides. We are improving with every match. I was impressed with how Mitch Krumm and Manuel Rodriguez competed in singles. Kansas Wesleyan is a very good team and very deep. We are looking forward to getting back to work and preparing for the University of Saint Mary next week!”

Rodriguez and Abadia kept the Bulldogs from getting shutout by an overwhelming opponent in the undefeated (3-0) Coyotes. The two fended off Raul Davalos and Adam Hanson for a 6-3 doubles set victory. Kansas Wesleyan would take the other two doubles and the point to set them ahead before delving into singles.

Michael Bedrosian at No. 4, fell to Hanson in the first set (4-6) but bounced back in the second set (6-1). The two would battle back and forth in the tiebreaker set as Bedrosian would fall, 7-10. No. 6 Krumm took William McMurry to extra games each set (5-7, 6-7) but couldn’t find the answer at the end of each set.

Others competing in singles were Hugo Fuentes (No. 1), Grady Works (No. 2), Abadia (No. 3) and Rodriguez at No. 4. KWU will face common GPAC opponent Midland at the Fremont Family YMCA.

Concordia (2-5) has a week off before a clash with the University of Saint Mary (1-4) at the Genesis Health Club-Clayview in Kansas City, Mo. First toss is set for 10 a.m. CT.

Works and Bedrosian big in triumph over CSM

Feburary 29

The Bulldogs matched up against the University of Saint Mary (Kan.) on Thursday Morning (Feb. 29) at Genesis Health Club-Clayview. Concordia whipped the Spires (5-2), winning the doubles point and four singles matches. Grady Works and Michael Bedrosian went 2-0 with a victory in their doubles and singles matches.

The Bulldog Blue are 3-5 overall having won three of its last four contests. Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on the intensity of play and how big the doubles point win set a fire in the guys.

“Getting out ahead of their team was really big for us. It set the tone for the rest of the matches. We mixed up our doubles lineup and I think it helped us today. All of the guys came out with intensity and passion in singles, and I was impressed with how the team rallied together. This was our third win in four duals, and it is big in building the program.”

In doubles, No. 2s Abadia and Bedrosian jumped on Will Ogrizovich and Leyton Ross in a 6-3 set victory. Luke Johnson and Works at No. 3s, took hold of the doubles point with a 6-4 set win over Demitri Serrano and Jack Contrucci.

Works continued to win, only giving up two total games in the defeat of Ogrizovich (6-1, 6-1). Mitch Krumm delivered a straight set shutout (6-0, 6-0) over Serrano taking the easiest win on the Spires. Krumm clinched the win for the Bulldogs.

Manuel Rodriguez (No. 4) and Bedrosian (No. 5) collected wins after giving up four games apiece. Rodriguez finished Contrucci (6-3, 6-1) and Bedrosian defeated Ross (6-1, 6-3) in their individual matchups.

Concordia (3-5) will face Sterling College (1-1) of Kansas at the SC Tennis Facility on Mar. 2. First toss is expected at 11 a.m. CT.

Abadia and company defeat Warriors at home

March 2

The Concordia Men’s Tennis team invited Sterling College (Kan.) to Seward to compete at the Bulldog Tennis Courts for the first time this year. Down to the final bout, No. 2 Santi Abadia clinched the 4-3 dual victory over the Warriors. Abadia and Michael Bedrosian went undefeated in their singles and doubles matches against Sterling.

CUNE has won four out of its last five duals and shift its record up to 4-5 and only one more dual remains before conference play. Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on how hard the team played and how it brings her joy to see the passionate tennis play.

“We came out and played hard. The wind was a huge factor in every game, but it is a part of playing tennis at a high level in any situation. I’m proud of how the guys continued to fight and how Santi kept his composure to get the individual match and team win. It was good to see passion from the team and we look forward to our next opponent.”

All the matches were done besides the No. 2 singles and Abadia strapped the team to his back and soared in his final set (7-6, 6-1). The Bogotá, Colombia, native won his third singles battle of the year and now has 11 career dual wins in singles play.

Two of the contests that proceeded the Abadia clash were big as No. 4 Manuel Rodriguez and No. 5 Bedrosian needed the final set tiebreakers to take each triumph. Rodriguez clamped down on Estaban Rocha (6-2, 4-6, 13-11) and Bedrosian clinched against David Garces (4-6, 6-4, 10-4) in comeback fashion.

The first point was gathered by the Bulldogs in doubles as No. 3s Luke Johnson and Grady Works collected a 6-4 set victory over Robin Baransi and Abhydudit Nagar. No. 2s Bedrosian and Abadia defeated Pedro Felipoff and Louis Boisdenghien, clinching doubles point, which was later needed for the team overall.

Sterling drops to 2-2 on the season, after defeating common foe Hastings (7-0). The team has two more non-conference matches before facing conference play.

Concordia (4-5) faces Iowa Central Community College (8-1) tomorrow (Mar. 3) in Seward. The Men are scheduled to play at the Bulldog Tennis Courts and the women inside Walz Fieldhouse, both at 1 p.m. CT. The Tritons have gone 1-1 against other GPAC competition.

Men’s tennis can’t find answer for Tritons

March 3

Concordia hosted another tennis dual on Sunday (Mar. 3), going through their third in four days, this time against Iowa Central Community College. The two teams competed at the Bulldog Tennis Courts and the Tritons came prepared, defeating the Bulldogs in a shutout (0-7). With the loss, Concordia falls back to 4-6 and will now step into conference play in two days.

Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on the strength of ICCC and how the team continues to grow together in a team mindset.

“Iowa Central is an extremely strong program. They have beaten a lot of great teams this season. I’m very proud of the way our players have bought into what we are doing and have embraced the team concept. We are getting better every match. Excited to face Mount Marty on Tuesday - our players are excited about another opportunity to get on the court and compete.”

No. 1 Hugo Fuentes found himself down after the first set (4-6) but rose to the occasion against Hod’Abalo Isak Padio pushing for a 6-3 second set triumph. The strong willed Bulldog out of Denia, Spain, wasn't finished and pushed the tiebreaker set past 10 in a 10-12 loss. Fuentes is still looking for his first singles win, after sliding up to the No.1 slot this season.

Santi Abadia at No. 2, made it tough on Amen Prince Gandonou taking seven games but lost in straight sets (4-6, 3-6). Manuel Rodriguez faced off against Caleb Peterson in a back and forth bout but the Triton got the better of Rodriguez, 1-6, 2-6.

Others competing in singles included Grady Works (No. 4), Michale Bedrosian (No. 5) and Mitch Krumm (No. 6).

All three of the doubles teams were bested as the teams were Luke Johnson and Grady Works (No. 3s), Abadia and Bedrosian (No. 2s) and Fuentes and Rodriguez (No. 1s).

Iowa Central moves up to 9-1, showing a great level of tennis for any level of college. As a young team, the Tritons will continue to have success and will face McHenry County College (Ill.) on Saturday.

Concordia (4-6) is set to play Mount Marty (6-2) in Lincoln, Neb. at the Woods Tennis Center on Tuesday (Mar. 5). First toss is set for 11 a.m. CT. The two teams have already faced twice, once in the fall and in spring, counted as non-conference bouts for the records. The Lancers took both duals giving up only one point to the Bulldogs.

Concordia surrenders to Lancers in Lincoln

March 5

Concordia entered GPAC play on Tuesday (Mar. 5) taking on Mount Marty as its first conference challenger. Hugo Fuentes and Santi Abadia continue to show growth, who sealed victories in singles, but the Dawgs couldn’t muster any more wins in the 2-5 loss. The two squads competed at the Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln, Neb. after both teams previously faced Iowa Central Community College.

The Bulldogs drop to 4-7 overall and 0-1 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on her players growing each dual and their positive attitude.

“We lost a heartbreaker (2-5), but we have made so many strides since we played them in early February. We didn’t win a singles match then and today we won two. Very proud of our progress and how our players have stayed the course and have kept their focus on our preparation, attitude and effort.

Fuentes was scorched in the first set (1-6) and having moved into the No. 1 position for the Bulldogs this season, he could have given up after those seven games. Instead, the Denia, Spain, native showed grit and battled back taking the second set (6-2) and delivering a comeback win (10-7) in the tiebreaker. With this victory, Fuentes scores his first singles triumph of the season.

No. 2 Abadia came out strong against Alexander Makarov, completing a two set win (6-4, 6-3) over the Lancer. He has had strong showings of late, taking two out of his last three in singles play.

Other starters in individual play were Manuel Rodriguez (No. 3), Grady Works (No. 4), Michael Bedrosian (No. 5) and Mitch Krumm (No. 6).

Concordia was shutout by Mount Marty in doubles, as all three pairings fell in the early portions of the dual.

The Lancers and Bulldogs have competed against each other three times this season, with the first two as non-conference bouts. Mount Marty has taken all three duals, with today being the closest finish.

Concordia (4-7) will have a needed 10-day break before facing Central College (2-7) out of Pella, Iowa on Friday (Mar. 15). The two opponents will meet at the Bulldog Tennis Courts at 2 p.m. CT. The NCAA Division III Dutch bested the Bulldogs in last year’s contest, 5-4.

Men’s tennis gears up for a two-dual week

March 14

Concordia Men’s Tennis will look to shake off its first conference loss to Mount Marty, competing in two duals this week. The Bulldogs will host Division III’s Central College (Iowa) on Friday (Mar. 15) at the Bulldog Tennis Courts at 2 p.m. CT. Less than 24 hours later, Concordia will travel to Midland and compete at the Fremont Family YMCA on Saturday. Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad is 4-7 overall and 0-1 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).

This Week

Friday, March 15 vs. Central College (2-8), 2 p.m.
--Location: Bulldog Tennis Courts (Seward, Neb.)

Saturday, March 16 at Midland (5-3), 11 a.m.
--Location: Fremont YMCA (Fremont, Neb.)

By the numbers

· With a 4-7 record, the Bulldogs have had an up and down season so far having won four out of five duals from Feb. 10-Mar. 2. Since, CUNE has fallen twice to Iowa Central Community College (0-7) and Mount Marty in its conference opener. The four teams Concordia bested: Baker University (Kan.), 5-2, Tabor College (Kan.), 5-2, University of Saint Mary (Kan.), 5-2, and Sterling College (Kan.), 4-3. With those wins, the Bulldogs are 4-2 against opponents from Kansas.

· Concordia owns three losses from Mount Marty (two non-conference, one conference) but the final dual showed the in-season improvement that coaches tend to look for. CUNE had only gained one point in the first two matches but garnered two wins in singles in the most recent 2-5 loss. While moral victories aren’t why most play the game, the team continues to gain confidence under first year coach Hart. No. 1 Hugo Fuentes and No. 2 Sani Abadia garnered their first wins against the Lancers and will have more assertiveness after getting conference wins.

· The Bulldogs have totaled 18 singles wins and 12 in doubles. Michael Bedrosian leads the team in singles with five, as Abadia and Manuel Rodriguez follow with four apiece. The two pace the team in doubles victories (four) and have the highest winning percentage (80) of the pairings. Luke Johnson and Grady works have collected two, along with Abadia and Bedrosian.

· The Dutch are 2-8 so far this season with victories over Greenville University (Ill.) and Cornell College (Iowa). Both were in close bouts with 5-4 as the final scores. The Warriors come into the matchup 5-3 and are the defending GPAC Champions. Under new coach, Robert Weber, Midland returns six players who attained significant playing time from their championship season in 2023. Most significantly, Ben Starman (No. 1), Joren Stevens and Nathen Bitzer. Key losses from last season were Luca Struffi, Nunzio Thiel and Tycho Janssen. This match will be played as a non-conference competition.

Next week

Next weekend Concordia will continue conference play competing against Morningside on Saturday and University of Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday. After, the Bulldogs will have only one non-conference match remaining and four conference duals.

Dawgs come down on Dutch in Sunny Seward

March 16

The sunshine and almost 60-degree weather made the Bulldog Tennis Courts a premier place to compete on Friday afternoon (Mar. 15). Concordia Men’s Tennis took on Central College (Iowa) and was one match away from a sweep, finishing 6-1 over the Dutch. Hugo Fuentes, Santi Abadia, and Michael Bedrosian all gathered victories in their doubles and singles matches.

The Bulldogs move to 5-7 overall and will not get much rest before heading into another dual tomorrow. Head Coach Lisa Hart on claiming wins in extra sets and how the team played.

“Very proud of how we competed today. We showed a lot of grit by winning every 10-point breaker we played in. Michael (Bedrosian) showed heart after he dropped the first set. He kept his composure, and I love that we continue to grow as a team together. We are excited to play in another match against Midland tomorrow.”

Manuel Rodriguez and Fuentes at No. 1s, completed their doubles bout first against AJ Wilkins and Alejo Marcon in a 6-2 set victory. No. 2s Abadia and Bedrosian sealed the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Alex Slaymaker and Ayden Fletcher.

Taking the momentum from doubles, Fuentes caught fuego and flamed through Fletcher, 6-1, 6-2, only giving up three games before his fast finish. Michael Bedrosian fell to Travis Subbert in the first set (1-6) but found strength in the second set and endured a 6-4 second hard fought set. In the tiebreaker, the Fowler, Calif., native continued to fight and snatched the triumph from the Dutch.

Grady Works at No. 4, continued to pour on the visitors with a straight set (6-4, 6-3) knockout punch to take the team win over Central College. Abadia (No. 2) and Mitch Krumm (No. 6) were taken to the brink but showed fortitude in the tiebreaker sets to give the Dawgs six match wins. Abadia won over Wilkins (6-2, 1-6, 10-2) and Krumm over Slaymaker (6-3, 2-6, 10-6).

The Dutch (2-8) will face Northwestern-St. Paul (Minn.) over a week from today and then move into conference play. With only a couple of wins this season, they will look to get back on track. Their solo win came from No. 3 Marcon against the Bulldogs.

Concordia (5-7) will square off with Midland (5-3) but in a non-conference scheduled match. The two teams will meet at the Fremont Family YMCA on Saturday (Mar. 16). First toss is set for 11 a.m. CT.

Bulldogs can’t compete with Warriors in Fremont

March 16

The Bulldogs got a look at the defending GPAC champions on Saturday (Mar. 16) at their home turf. Grady Works collected the lone point (1-6) as the visitors ran into an experienced Midland squad. The two teams will see each other again as this match was scheduled as a non-conference bout in Fremont.

The Bulldogs drop to 5-8 overall and will get a week break to regroup before re-entering conference play. Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on the team play and the wins.

“We played hard but just ran into a really tough and experienced opponent. Grady (Works) grinded out a big time win and I’m happy to be able to see him get going as of late. He and Mitch (Krumm) made some big plays to take their match in doubles. We will get some practice in this week and get ready to take on Morningside next weekend.”

Works at No. 4, fell (6-7) in a set that needed extra play but rebounded with a 6-2 dominant showing in the second. The Lincoln, Neb., native came in clutch with a 10-4 tiebreaker triumph. Works was paired with Mitch Krumm at No. 3s and was a bright spot for Concordia in the 7-6 set win.

No. 1s Manuel Rodriguez and Hugo Fuentes faced an energetic pairing in Joren Stevens and Benjamin Starman and pushed them in a 4-6 set. No. 2s Santi Abadia and Michael Bedrosian fell to some Midland newcomers as the home team stole the doubles allotment.

Others competing in singles were Fuentes (No. 1), Abadia (No. 2), Rodriguez (No. 3), Bedrosian (no. 5) and Johnson (No. 6).

Midland is 6-3 with an exhibition coming against Iowa Central Community College and then faced a tough William Woods University (Mo.) program.

Concordia (5-8) will take on Morningside (7-3) driving out to Sioux City on Saturday (Mar. 23). The two will clash at the Mason Family Tennis Complex at 12:30 p.m. CT.

Dawgs will compete against Mustangs and Lopers on the road

March 19

As the temperature turns back cold this week, teams are shuffling schedules and the Concordia Men’s tennis team is no different. The Bulldogs will compete against Morningside on Friday (Mar. 22) and the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday. Concordia dominated Central College (6-1) and fell to Midland (1-6) in a non-conference match the past two matches. Head Coach Lisa Hart has her team with a 5-8 overall record and 0-1 in conference play.

This Week

Friday, March 22 at Morningside (7-3), 12 p.m.
--Location: First Serve Tennis Center (South Sioux City, Neb.)

Sunday, March 24 at University of Nebraska-Kearney (8-6), 3 p.m.
--Location: Ernest Grundy Tennis Center (Kearney, Neb.)

By the numbers

· In the most recent conference rankings, Concordia was ranked 5th as Mount Marty and the Dawgs have played the only conference match heading into the current week. With hardly any GPAC games played, Coach Hart’s squad has the potential to move up in the standings and make their mark in the league. The team finished fourth last season and the program has not finished outside the top four since the 2017-18 season.

· The Bulldogs split the previous week in the win and loss column, dishing out a win and receiving a loss. With another example of the men’s team showing growth from year to year, Concordia bested (6-1) Central College (Iowa) as the year before the team scraped out a 5-4 victory against the Dutch. Hugo Fuentes, Santi Abadia, and Michael Bedrosian all gathered victories in their doubles and singles matches. Traveling to Fremont, the visitors were on the opposite end of a 1-6 loss. Grady Works stayed unbeaten on the day, winning in a two-set tiebreak (singles) and at No. 3s with Mitch Krumm (doubles).

· The Bulldogs have totaled 24 singles wins and 15 in doubles. Michael Bedrosian leads the team in singles with six, as Abadia (five) and Manuel Rodriguez (four) follow. The two pace the team in doubles victories (four) and have the highest winning percentage (80) of the pairings. Abadia and Bedrosian have captured three and Luke Johnson and Grady works have collected two.

· The Mustangs come into the contest with a 7-3 overall record and will break into their first conference match against the Lancers on Wednesday. Morningside had a non-conference dual win (7-0) over Northwestern in their season opener but has shown promise in their losses to teams mentioned in the NAIA poll. In a 2-5 loss to No.6 William Woods, Skander Ben Abdallah and Gustav Sjoberg won in singles play. The Lopers come into the Concordia match with an 8-6 record and defeated (6-1) common opponent William Jewell in February.

Next week

Concordia will get a two week break before facing Northwestern and Doane. The Dawgs will host the Red Raiders on Saturday (Apr. 6) and the Tigers the following Wednesday.

Concordia shut out by Morningside in second GPAC dual

March 22

The Concordia Men’s Tennis team made the drive to a wintery Sioux City, Iowa, and played indoors against Morningside, the top ranked team in the conference. The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead and shut out the Bulldogs, 0-7, in their second conference dual.

Concordia drops to 5-9 overall and winless (0-2) in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on their play against Morningside and the team's continued growth.

“This is the best match we have played all season. Very impressed with our entire lineup one through six, and how we competed. Obviously, the outcome isn’t what we wanted but we are making huge strides as a team. We are excited for another very tough challenge against UNK on Sunday afternoon.”

Manuel Rodriguez at No. 3, pushed his opponent, Skander Ben Abdallah, losing in a heartbreaking (6-7) first set. Battling in the second, the Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, native couldn’t get it done in the end with a 4-6 final set.

No. 2 Santi Abadia and No. 5 Michael Bedrosian fell after giving their opponents trouble by taking seven games in two sets. Abadia challenged Santiago Minetti (4-6, 3-6) and Bedrosian was defeated by Mikhil Raja (3-6, 4-6) in straight sets.

Hugo Fuentes at No. 1, fell in straight sets to Mark Trenkle but didn’t give up fighting in the 4-6, 2-6, loss. Others in the singles slots were Grady Works (No. 4) and Mitch Krumm (No. 6).

The Bulldogs lost all three of the doubles matches to the Mustangs. Morningside has now reached a 9-3 overall record and an undefeated 2-0 in the conference. Taking a break from GPAC play, the team will travel to Storm Lake, Iowa to face Buena Vista University.

Concordia (5-9) will travel to face the University of Nebraska-Kearney (8-6) on Sunday (Mar. 24) at the Ernest Grundy Tennis Center. First toss is set for 3 p.m. CT.

Lopers deal Bulldogs third straight loss

March 24

The Concordia Men’s Tennis team was on the road for its third straight dual on Sunday (Mar. 24). Taking on the University of Nebraska-Kearney, the Bulldogs were swept (0-7) by the Lopers inside the Ernest Grundy Tennis Center. The visitors are 5-10 after three straight losses and remain winless (0-2) in the conference.

Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on UNK and her team looking to move forward in practice.

“UNK is a really talented team and credit to them, they came ready to play. We came out and were unable to get much going. Our team will look forward to some time to improve and take on Northwestern in April.”

No. 3 Manuel Rodriguez and Aaron Osmond had a competitive match, but the Bulldog was unable to push to for tiebreaker set in the 4-6, 3-6, loss. No. 1 Hugo Fuentes faced Adam Palacek but fell (2-6,1-6) to the Loper.

In doubles, both the No. 1s and 2s dropped their matches (2-6) to the Division II squad. Fuentes and Rodriguez were in slot one plus Santi Abadia and Michael Bedrosian were in number two. Grady Works and Mitch Krumm at No. 3s, lost to Palacek and Jip Mens in their paring set (1-6).

UNK moves their record to 9-6 and will move back into conference play against Newman University (Kan.) this Thursday. It is .500 early in the MIAA season with a 1-1 conference record.

Concordia (5-10, 0-2 GPAC) will finally come back to the Bulldog Tennis Courts to face Northwestern (6-4, 0-0 GPAC) on Saturday (Apr. 6). The dual is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT. The Bulldogs defeated the Red Raiders in both duals last season.

Dawgs look to get back on track versus NWC

April 4

The Concordia Men’s Tennis team is set to host Northwestern on Saturday (Apr. 6) in Seward. Ranked closely in the conference, the Bulldogs will need to bring their A-game against the Red Raiders inside Walz Fieldhouse. CUNE fell to Morningside and the University of Nebraska-Kearney in the past two duals. Head Coach Lisa Hart’s group is 5-10 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

This Week

Saturday, April 6 vs Northwestern (6-4, 0-0 GPAC), 11 a.m.
--Location: Walz Fieldhouse (Seward, Neb.)

By the numbers

· In the most recent conference rankings, Concordia was ranked 5th as Northwestern is ranked just behind them in the conference poll. With four duals remaining, the Bulldogs can move up in the standings, being winless in the conference so far. The team finished fourth last season and the program has not finished outside the top four since the 2017-18 season.

· Morningside and UNK swept Concordia in both duals as the Mustangs showed why they were picked at No. 1 in the GPAC. The division II Lopers moved through the Bulldogs, not giving up a single match and moving to 9-6 on the season.

· The Red Raiders have yet to play a GPAC match but will face Midland on Friday before taking on the Bulldogs. Northwestern comes into the week on a three dual win streak. It has defeated a trio of opponents (5-4) starting with Central College (Iowa), St. Olaf College (Minn.) and Wartburg College (Iowa). The visitors are led by Leandro Costa, who has mounted a 7-2 overall record playing mostly at No. 4 with a 5-1 record.

Next week

Concordia will face Doane and Wartburg next week. The Dawgs will travel to Crete, Neb. to face the Tigers in conference play and host the Knights for their last non-conference dual on Saturday.

Team win comes at Northwestern expense

April 6

Concordia University Men’s Tennis moved the dual versus Northwestern inside to Walz Fieldhouse after an uncharacteristically windy day in Seward. The Bulldogs got ahead in doubles play but had to claw out the Red Raiders in the 4-3 final. Hugo Fuentes, Manuel Rodriguez and Michael Bedrosian finished with two wins against the visitors. Concordia is 6-10 in the season and 1-2 in the conference.

Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on the importance of doubles play versus Northwestern.

“Awesome team win today-everyone contributed. The doubles point was very important and wound up being the difference for us. We played our best doubles of the season, and it helped us clinch our first team win in the conference.”

Mitch Krumm and Grady Works at No. 3s, finished their opponents with lightening speed in the 6-1 doubles set. No. 1s Hugo Fuentes and Manuel Rodriguez defeated David Bomgaars and Jorge Menendez (6-3) grabbing the doubles point. Santi Abadia and Bedrosian followed suit with a 6-3 set over Mateo Flores and Leandro Costa.

No.1 Fuentes continued his great start with a blistering win (6-2, 6-2) over Menendez. No. 2 Rodriguez went to a three set match but took control in the deciding round (6-4, 4-6, 6-1) over Bomgaars.

With three Bulldogs falling to Red Raiders, No. 5 Bedrosian was needed to finish off the visitors inside Walz. The Fowler, Calif., native stepped on the gas to run down a match point (6-2, 6-1) in his match and for the team.

Others in singles were Abadia (No. 3), Works (No. 4) and Krumm (No. 6).

Northwestern stays winless (0-2) in the conference and moves down to 6-6 overall. They were led by Flores (No. 3), Costa (No. 4) and Collin Harmelink (No. 6). They face Morningside next in Orange City on Tuesday.

Concordia (6-10, 1-2 GPAC) will face off against Doane (8-8, 0-0 GPAC) in Crete, Neb. on Wednesday. First toss is set for 4:30 p.m. CT.

Tough bouts coming in Doane and Wartburg

April 8

The Dawgs will face two different opponents in the coming days, starting with Doane on Wednesday (Apr. 10) and Wartburg College (Iowa) on Saturday. Concordia out-battled Northwestern in a 4-3 dual victory, taking its first win of the conference season. Head Coach Lisa Hart has her team at 1-2 in the GPAC and 6-10 overall.

This Week

Wednesday, April 10 at Doane (9-8, 1-0 GPAC), 4:30 p.m.
--Location: Haddix Center (Crete, Neb.)

Saturday, April 13 vs Wartburg (6-14), 9 a.m.
--Location: Bulldog Tennis Courts (Seward, Neb.)

By the numbers

· The Bulldogs needed every point they clinched to take the 4-3 triumph over the Red Raiders. Concordia played lights out in doubles, sweeping all three of the sets to six. No. 1 Hugo Fuentes continued his great start with a blistering win (6-2, 6-2) over Jorge Menendez. No. 2 Manuel Rodriguez went to a three set match but took control in the deciding round (6-4, 4-6, 6-1) over David Bomgaars. No. 5 Michael Bedrosian stepped on the gas to run down a match point (6-2, 6-1) in his match and for the team.

· The Bulldogs have totaled 27 singles wins and 18 in doubles. Michael Bedrosian leads the team in singles with seven, as Abadia (five) and Manuel Rodriguez (five) follow. The two pace the team in doubles victories (four) and have the highest winning percentage (80) of the pairings. Abadia and Bedrosian have captured four and three other pairings have collected two wins apiece.

· Hugo Fuentes has stepped into a consistent No. 1 role in singles and has captured three wins in singles and doubles. Starting to pick up steam, he is 3-3 in the last six singles duals and is gaining confidence in being the frontrunner for the Bulldogs. His record at No. 1 last season was 2-10 with only one win in the conference. The sophomore out of Denia, Spain, has improved his play in the spot and it has shown as of late with a win over conference opponent Northwestern.

· The Tigers are 9-8 overall and 1-0 in the conference, coming in on a 3-dual win streak. In that time, Doane defeated Bethany College (KS), 6-1, Nebraska Wesleyan University, 6-1, and Mount Marty, 4-3. Federico Infante has the most wins in singles with a 9-6 record at No. 3. Esteban Gutierrez and Jose Purizaca have an 8-8 record as a duo and have played the majority of their pairings in the No. 2s slot.

· The Knights come into the week with a 6-14 overall record and have won three out of their last four. Wartburg defeated Loras College (Iowa), 8-1, Martin Luther College (Minn.), 8-1, and the University of Northwestern (Minn.), 5-4, in those three victories. Sean Oslund leads the team with a 10-11 record (8-9 dual) playing a majority at the No. 2 position. Cade Davis and Jeff Miller have been put together the most and totaled an 8-11 overall record as a pair.

Next week

Concordia will finish off its regular season against Midland in Seward and Hastings on the road. The Bulldogs will match up with the Warriors next Tuesday and the Broncos next Saturday.

Tigers too much for Bulldogs in Crete

April 10

The Concordia Men’s Tennis team found their way to Crete, Neb. to face off against conference rival Doane on Wednesday night (Apr. 10). The Bulldogs gave their all against a mix of veterans and newcomers for the Tigers, but dropped the dual, 1-6. After the loss, Concordia moves down to 6-11 overall and 1-3 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).

Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on the talented Doane squad and what they plan to do to get better.

“Doane is a tough team, and we knew we would have to bring our best. We got down early but continued to fight through all the matches. We are growing with a young team and will continue to work hard in practice. Then we will bring that intensity to our duals. We look forward to our final three duals.”

No. 2s Michael Bedrosian and Santi Abadia fell early (2-6) in their doubles set, along with No.1s Hugo Fuentes and Manuel Rodriguez (4-6) against Federico Infante and Diego Infante. With the doubles point out of reach, No. 3s Grady Works and Mitch Krumm found a way to grind out a 7-5 victory to silence a potential sweep.

With the match already won by the home team, No. 2 Santi Abadia came away with a straight set victory (6-4, 7-6 (7-2)), battling hard for the second round. The sophomore, out of Bogotá, Colombia, jumped up from No. 5 singles last season to No. 2 singles. He has still shown the ability to win even with the higher seed. Abadia has won six singles matches with three left to play and has to pass last year’s total (eight) with three duals left on the schedule.

Bedrosian at No. 5, came out strong and defeated Andre Hartman in the first set (6-2). The endurance of the freshman wouldn’t last, as Hartman took two straight (6-4, 6-4) from him to steal the win.

Others competing in singles were Fuentes (No. 1), Rodriguez (No. 2), Works (No. 4) and Krumm (No, 6).

The Tigers stay undefeated (2-0) in the conference and 11-8 overall. Doane was led by Esteban Gutierrez (No. 1), Jose Purizaca (No. 2) and Diego Infante (No. 4). They will take on Northwestern in their next conference bout.

Concordia (6-10) will welcome Wartburg College (6-15) out of Iowa to the Bulldog Tennis Courts on Saturday. First toss is set for a bright and early 9 a.m. CT.

Clutch play leads to victory over Knights

April 13

Seemingly right after daybreak, Concordia competed early with Wartburg College (Iowa) on a beautiful sunny Saturday (Apr. 13). The Bulldogs and Knights went at it, as two evenly matched teams came down to the wire in doubles and singles play. No. 1 Hugo Fuentes came in clutch and slammed the door shut on the visitor comeback for a 4-3 dual win.

The home team moves their overall record to 7-11 overall for the season with only two duals before the GPAC tournament. Head Coach Lisa Hart raved about her team’s play and growth throughout the year.

“Wartburg is a solid team, very well coached. Proud of how we competed today in our close sets. A tie breaker decided the doubles point and also Hugo won a breaker to clinch the match for us at No. 1. We are competing much better in the pressure points. So proud of the progress our entire team has had- excited to get back to GPAC competition next week and finish our season strong!”

Up 3-2, No. 1 Fuentes said goodnight to the hopes of Wartburg stealing a win on the road. The chances of winning looked slim after a 3-6 first set loss, but it didn’t phase the homegrown Spaniard. The sophomore roared back in the second set (6-1) with a decisive look in his eyes and finished off Cade Davis in the tiebreak.

The other two singles points were captured by No. 3 Abadia (7-5, 6-0) and No. 4 Bedrosian (7-5, 6-2). Both Bulldogs seem to mirror each other with tough extra play first set wins and followed with dominating play in the second.

In doubles, No. 2s Abadia and Bedrosian rolled into a 6-0 shutout over their opponents in orange and black. In hindsight, the No. 3s Grady Works and Mitch Krumm persevered in their moment of pressure that later became the deciding point. The duo found themselves tied (6-6) at the end of the set, but defeated (7-5) Ola Palmertz and Jeff Miller in the tiebreak.

Others competing in singles were No. 2 Rodriguez, No. 5 Krumm and No. 6 Luke Johnson.

The Knights move to 7-16 in their campaign and will return to the American Rivers Conference in NCAA Division III play. Wartburg was led by No. 2 Sean Osland, No. 5 Kyle Sehlin and No. 6 Ola Palmertz.

Concordia (6-11, 1-3 GPAC) will resume conference play versus Midland (8-5, 2-1 GPAC) this Tuesday in Seward, Neb. First serve will be hit at 4:30 p.m. CT at the Bulldog Tennis Courts.

Senior Day festivities ahead versus Midland; End regular season at Hastings

April 16

The Concordia Men’s Tennis team will face two different opponents in the coming days, starting with Midland on Tuesday (Apr. 16) and at Hastings on Saturday. The Bulldogs fell to conference rival Doane and defeated their last non-conference opponent in Warburg College (Iowa). Senior day will be celebrated against Midland with the Luke Johnson being the lone graduate. Their record moves to 7-11 overall and 1-3 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).

This Week

Tuesday, April 16 vs Midland (10-5, 4-0 GPAC), 4:30 p.m.
--Location: Walz Fieldhouse (Seward, Neb.)

Saturday, April 20 at Hastings (1-13, 0-3 GPAC), 11 a.m.
--Location: Dorothy R. Becker Tennis Facility (Hastings, Neb.)

By the numbers

Concordia couldn’t find the answer versus the Tigers and found themselves losing 1-6 to the home team. With the match already won by Doane, No. 2 Santi Abadia came away with a straight set victory (6-4, 7-6), battling hard for the second round. Back and forth was the matches against Warburg, as the Bulldogs pulled out a 4-3 win over the Knights. Up 3-2, No. 1 Fuentes said goodnight to the hopes of Wartburg stealing a win on the road. The chances of winning looked slim after a 3-6 first set loss, but it didn’t faze the homegrown Spaniard. The sophomore roared back in the second set (6-1) with a decisive look in his eyes and finished off Cade Davis in the tiebreak. The other two singles points were captured by No. 3 Abadia (7-5, 6-0) and No. 4 Bedrosian (7-5, 6-2). No. 2s Abadia and Bedrosian rolled (6-0) and No. 3s Krumm and Works defeated the visitors, 7-6.
The Bulldogs have totaled 31 singles wins and 21 in doubles. Michael Bedrosian leads the team in singles with eight, as Abadia (seven) and Manuel Rodriguez (five) follow. Abadia and Bedrosian have captured five doubles wins to pace the team. Abadia and Rodriguez have collected four, along with Mitch Krumm and Grady Works. Those two pairings are on three match win streaks.
Luke Johnson is the only senior tennis player but has been an instrumental part of the program and the university. The Kansas City, Kan., native has a 5-5 singles career record and has a 3-4 doubles record this season. The Shawnee Mission North, product will graduate with a degree in biology. In the fall, he will begin pursuing a doctorate in biomedical studies at Kansas Medical. He will be getting married in May.
Midland comes into the contest with an 8-5 overall record and a 2-1 conference showing. They are led by Ben Starman, Joren Stevens and Nathen Bitzer. Hastings remains winless in the conference and has totaled a 1-13 overall record. The Broncos are led by No. 1 Nick Smeltzer.
Being the final week before postseason play, the Morningside Mustangs are at the top with a 4-0 conference record. Two teams remain with one loss, including Midland (2-1) and Mount Marty (2-1). Doane is right behind, having played an extra match and earning a 2-2 record. The teams at the bottom are Northwestern (2-3), Concordia (1-3) and Hastings (0-3).

Next week

Concordia will look to make the conference tournament with a win over Midland or Hastings. The GPAC championships will be played in Sioux City, Iowa hosted by Morningside on Apr. 26-27. The tournament will be held at the Mason Family Tennis Complex.

Bulldogs fall on senior day to Midland

April 16

The Concordia University Men’s Tennis team hosted senior day inside the Walz Fieldhouse on Tuesday night (Apr. 16). Midland pulled ahead with a doubles point, and made it tough on the Bulldogs through the end of the 2-5 dual. No.1 Hugo Fuentes had a massive day going 2-0 in the loss to the Warriors. Luke Johnson was honored as the lone senior in the program.

Concordia moves to 1-4 GPAC and 7-12 overall. Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on senior day and how the men played.

“We are going to miss Luke so much. He has been an awesome guy to have in our program and it will be really hard to see him go. I’m proud of the guys and how they played. I felt like we were right there in some matches, especially doubles. Hugo and Manuel played with passion and intensity. I’m proud to see the progression of Hugo through the season. That was a great win for him. Now, we move on to Hastings.”

Down 3-1, Hugo Fuentes started hot against Ben Starman taking the first set (6-4). After Starman (1-6) made the match go to a third set, Fuentes kept his composure and started dealing. He finished the third frame (6-3) with his hands in the air. The Denia, Spain, native has now won three out of his last four matches at No. 1.

Earlier in the evening, No. 2 Manuel Rodriguez seized the first Bulldog win over Daniel Liebig in a straight set victory (6-2, 6-2). In doubles, No. 2s Santi Abadia and Fuentes defeated Arthur Hernandes and Vitor Goncalves, 6-3, but lost the point due to the other dual matches.

Others playing in singles were No. 3 Abadia, No. 4 Michael Bedrosian, No. 5 Grady Works and No. 6 Luke Johnson.

The Warriors were led by No. 3 Joren Stevens (2-0) and No. 5 Nathen Bitzer (1-0), who won every match played. Midland will face Doane this Saturday in Fremont, Neb.

Concordia (7-12, 1-4 GPAC) will face off against Hastings (1-13, 0-3 GPAC) to clinch a spot in the GPAC championships on Saturday. The Bulldogs will travel to Hastings, Neb., and are set to compete at 11 a.m. CT.

Dawgs Keep Hastings winless in GPAC play; Move to GPAC tourney

April 20

The Concordia Men’s Tennis team went west to Hastings for its final regular season dual on Saturday morning (Apr. 20). With the Broncos only having four athletes, the Dawgs pounced on their conference rival, 6-1, and sealed their spot in the conference tournament. After leading 6-5 in the opening set, No. 2 Manuel Rodriguez received a loss after retiring from play.

Concordia takes their second conference win (2-4) and pushes their overall record to 8-12. Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on getting the job done and about the ending of the regular season.

“We did what we needed to do today. We made sure we had a spot in the GPAC tournament. I’m proud of our team! They have fought through a lot of adversity this year and have pushed through the whole season. I’m super excited to make our first trip together to the GPAC tournament next week.”

No. 4 Bedrosian was able to clinch the conference win with relative ease (6-2, 6-0) over Agustin Lopez. Santi Abadia at No. 3, poured on unneeded points with a convincing 6-1, 6-0 clobbering over Ethan Mins.

No. 1 Hugo Fuentes won his third straight (6-2, 6-3) defeating Nick Smeltzer in the dominating dual. After struggling in the first half of the season, he has claimed victory over four of his last five opponents.

With three doubles open for Hastings, No. 2s Abadia and Fuentes made quick work (6-1) of Lopez and Thane Waite taking the doubles point. Rodriguez and Bedrosian at No. 1s, finished off the Lancers in team play with a 7-5 hard-fought win over Smeltzer and Mins.

The Broncos finish their 2023-24 campaign with a 1-16 overall record and winless (0-6) in conference play. With their one win coming from injury today, Hastings will look to grow for the 2024-25 year after missing out on postseason play.

Concordia (8-12, 2-4 GPAC) will get almost a week's break before traveling to Sioux City, Iowa to the GPAC championship tournament. The bracket play is set for April 26-27 at Morningside University.

2024 GPAC Men's Tennis Tournament Preview

April 23

With the regular season coming to a close, the fifth-seeded Bulldogs are preparing to take on the fourth-seeded Doane in the first round of the 2024 GPAC Men’s Tennis Championship, which is slated to get underway on Friday from First Serve Tennis Center in South Sioux City, Neb. The tournament boasts the top six teams from the final regular season standings. Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad finished the regular season last week with a loss to Midland (2-5) and a win over Hastings (6-1). The Bulldogs enter the postseason at 8-12 overall (2-4 GPAC).

GPAC Tournament – First Round (full pairings at bottom)

Friday, April 26 vs. Doane (9-9, 3-3 GPAC), 9 a.m.
--Location: First Serve Tennis Center (South Sioux City, Neb.)

By the numbers

· With a youthful roster, first year Head Coach Lisa Hart has made strides in the season after having only four returners from the previous season: senior Luke Johnson, Santi Abadia, Hugo Fuentes and Manuel Rodriguez. The 2023-24 team’s eight overall wins and 2-4 in the conference, the Bulldogs improved as the season went along. With one senior on the roster, the lineup has regularly featured Abadia, Michael Bedrosian, Fuentes, Mitch Krumm, Rodriguez and Grady Works.

· In last week’s action, Hugo Fuentes was the only Bulldog to go undefeated (2-0) in the week. The No. 1 Spaniard defeated Ben Starman (Midland) in three sets and Nick Smeltzer (Hastings) in two. No. 2 Rodriguez was able to best Daniel Liebig (6-2, 6-2) in the loss to the Warriors. Fuentes and Abadia clinched the doubles point versus the Broncos. No. 4 Bedrosian was able to grab the conference win with relative ease (6-2, 6-0) over Agustin Lopez. Santi Abadia at No. 3, poured on unneeded points with a convincing 6-1, 6-0 clobbering over Ethan Mins.

· The Bulldogs have totaled 38 singles wins and 25 in doubles. Michael Bedrosian leads the team in singles with nine, as Abadia (eight), Fuentes (six) and Manuel Rodriguez (six) follow. Fuentes has won three in a row at No. 1. Abadia and Bedrosian have captured five doubles wins to pace the team. Abadia and Rodriguez have collected four, along with Mitch Krumm and Grady Works. Abadia and Rodriguez are on three match win streaks.

· Concordia will be looking to go further than last year’s exit from the GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs were defeated in the semifinals by Midland, 0-4. In the history of the GPAC tournament (first held in 2001), the program has reached the conference final one time in 2021. In the 22 all-time GPAC tournaments, Concordia has reached at least the semifinal round 11 times.

· During the regular season, the Bulldogs captured GPAC wins over Northwestern, 4-3, and Hastings, 6-1. Morningside emerged as the GPAC regular season champion with a perfect 7-0 league mark. Below are the national rankings for each GPAC squad, according to Massey Ratings:

o 41 – Morningside

o 46 – Midland

o 53 – Doane

o 64 – Northwestern

o 66 – Mount Marty

o 71 – Concordia

o 78 – Hastings

2024 GPAC Men’s Tennis Tournament

Thursday play will be moved indoors to South Sioux City, Nebraska, at the First Serve Tennis Center because of the projected forecast. Saturday's location is to be determined.

Friday, April 26 – Quarterfinals
(4) Doane vs. (5) Concordia, 9 a.m.
(3) Midland vs. (6) Northwestern, 11 a.m.

Friday, April 26 – Semifinals
(1) Morningside vs. 4/5 winner, 1 p.m.
(2) Mount Marty vs. 3/6 winner, 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 27 – Championship
1:30 p.m.

Dawgs finish season with loss in quarterfinals

April 26

Fifth seeded Concordia Men’s Tennis took a trip to the First Serve Tennis Center and took on fourth seeded Doane on Thursday morning (Apr. 26). The Tigers squeezed out a doubles point win and then won three straight singles for a 0-4 shutout in the GPAC tournament quarterfinals. With the loss, the Bulldogs finished their season 8-13 overall.

First year Head Coach Lisa Hart commented on the constant improvement of her players and the buy-in from everyone.

“This season has been one of progress. Our players bought in and improved throughout the season. Our team is very passionate, exciting to watch, and extremely resilient. Adding Grady (Works) in January was a game changer for our program. He not only changed the program on the court with his work ethic but also off the court with his steady and positive personality. We will miss Luke Johnson, our lone senior, and we thank him for all of his positive contributions to our program. Excited for everyone else to return next season and get back to work!”

After No. 1s fell quickly, No. 3s Grady Works and Mitch Krumm outlasted Elliot Dassel and Andre Hartman (7-5) to tie up doubles. No. 2s Hugo Fuentes and Santi Abadia found themselves deadlocked at 6-6, going into a tiebreaker falling 5-7.

No. 3 Abadia fell in the first two sets (1-6, 1-6) to Federico Infante and Manuel Rodriguez followed (2-6, 2-6) against Jose Purizaca. Down 0-3, Luke Johnson tried to hold off Dassel but was unable to force a third set in the 2-6, 2-6 final.

Three Bulldogs remained unfinished but were battling to make the match closer than the shutout final score. No. 1 Fuentes (2-6, 6-2, 2-0) and No. 4 Michael Bedrosian (6-4, 3-6, 1-0) were up in their third sets and No. 5 Grady Works was on the verge of the first win (6-4, 5-0), only needing one more game to clinch his point.

Doane will move on to the conference semifinals and face first seeded Morningside.

Concordia finalizes its 2023-24 campaign with an 8-13 record and 2-4 GPAC showing. The Bulldogs will look to improve under Hart as she enters her second year as the head coach of Concordia University Tennis. The team loses one senior next year, Luke Johnson.

Abadia, Fuentes earn All-GPAC accolades in doubles

May 7

For their work this season on the doubles court, sophomores Santiago Abadia and Hugo Fuentes landed GPAC All-Conference recognition, as announced by the league on Tuesday (May 7). Fuentes has represented Concordia University Tennis on the all-conference honor roll for the second-straight season while Abadia has picked up the first All-GPAC award of his career. Both Abadia and Fuentes were listed as 2024 honorable mention doubles selections.

2024 All-GPAC

· Santiago Abadia (Bogota, Colombia): HM Doubles

o 2024 GPAC records: 3-3 singles | 3-3 doubles.

· Hugo Fuentes (Denia Spain): HM Doubles

o 2024 GPAC records: 4-2 singles | 3-3 doubles.

Abadia and Fuentes went 2-0 in GPAC league matches when paired together this past 2024 season. They combined to defeat their counterparts from Midland (April 16) and Hastings (April 20) at the No. 2 doubles position. Within conference singles play, Fuentes posted a 4-2 mark while Abadia went 3-3. From an overall season perspective, Abadia went 8-13 in singles and 11-9 in doubles and Fuentes went 6-14 in singles and 5-16 in doubles while playing at the top of the lineup.

Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad finished the 2023-24 season at 8-13 overall (2-4 GPAC). The campaign came to an end in the quarterfinals of the GPAC tournament.

Blough named regional Arthur Ashe award winner; Bulldog Tennis honored by ITA

May 7

Concordia University, Nebraska junior Tessa Blough earned high distinction from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). The native of Cody, Wyo., was named Central Regional Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship award winner on Monday (May 6) by the ITA. In addition, both of Head Coach Lisa Hart’s men’s and women’s Concordia Tennis squads earned ITA Community Service Award Winner Honorable Mention status.

Every year the ITA recognizes coaches and players for their excellence on the court and in their communities throughout the season. The ITA Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding student-athletes in all five divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JUCO) at the regional and national level. This prestigious award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to the men’s and women’s national student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.

Blough was one of four NAIA student-athletes nationally to be chosen as a regional Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship award winner. She is a Psychology and Behavioral Science major and represents the Concordia Tennis program on the Bulldog Council of Student-Athletes. Blough leads the team in number of community service hours. She lives with a condition called lupus and is in a constant state of managing her symptoms while competing at the highest levels on the court and excelling in the classroom.

Says Hart, “Tessa embodies what being a servant leader is all about. She always puts her teammates above herself and is a selfless leader on and off the court. She is willing to sacrifice anything for the good of the team.”

Throughout the 2023-24 academic year, the Concordia Tennis teams combined for 126 community service hours. The service projects have included events at local elementary schools, socializing and fellowship at the Ridgewood Rehab & Care Center, community cleanup and working at the Science Bowl.

“I am happy our team is being recognized for their community service this year,” Hart said. “Our players are always willing and excited to help others. It is important for our program to be about more than just the wins and losses on the court. Giving back to our University community and the Seward community is important and extremely rewarding for all of us to be a part of.”

As a regional winner, Blough will be up for the national Arthur Ashe award. National winners will be announced by the ITA on May 13.

Bulldogs place three standouts on NAIA Scholar-Athlete list

May 13

A trio of Bulldogs from the Concordia University Women’s Tennis program has been honored as 2024 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes, as announced on Monday (May 13). The list includes repeat award winners Luke Johnson and Manuel Rodriguez and first-time honoree Hugo Fuentes.

The 2023-24 list of men’s tennis honorees features 247 total student-athletes. In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.

Winner of the 2023-24 GPAC All-Sports Championship Trophy, Concordia University ranks as the NAIA’s all-time leader in number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 2,322 entering the 2023-24 academic year. The school record for number of Scholar-Athletes in one academic year is 226 achieved in 2019-20. Concordia has been a regular national leader for both Scholar-Athletes and Scholar-Teams.

2024 Men’s Tennis NAIA Scholar-Athletes

· Hugo Fuentes (Denia, Spain)

· Luke Johnson (Kansas City, Kan.)

· Manuel Rodriguez (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain)

Concordia program, six team members honored academically by ITA

July 25

In recognition handed out by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Thursday (July 25), the Concordia University Men’s Tennis program and six team members earned academic honors for the 2023-24 year. The Bulldogs garnered All-Academic Team accolades for posting a team grade point average above 3.2.

In addition, the individuals listed below were named ITA Scholar Athletes thanks to achieving grade point averages of 3.5 or above for the 2023-24 academic year. Across the NAIA, there 27 men’s teams and 202 men’s student-athletes to meet the criteria.

2024 ITA Scholar Athletes

· Santiago Abadia (Bogota, Colombia)

· Michael Bedrosian (Fowler, Calif.)

· Luke Johnson (Kansas City, Kan.)

· Mitch Krumm (Wichita, Kan.)

· Manuel Rodriguez (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain)

· Grady Works (Lincoln, Neb.)