OMAHA, Neb. – Led by a lineup full of freshmen and sophomores, the Concordia University Women’s Tennis team made a significant leap forward in 2022-23. Standout rookie Mariana Molano and company displayed that progress in advancing to the semifinals of the GPAC tournament, which took place at Genesis Health Club in Omaha, Neb., on Friday (April 28). The fourth-seeded Bulldogs got past fifth-seeded Northwestern, 4-1, in the quarterfinals before having its run end, 4-0, at the hands of top-seeded Midland.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad has concluded the 2022-23 season at 13-9 overall. Concordia more than doubled its win total from its 6-11 campaign in 2021-22.
“It was a good season overall,” Long said. “It was great to see the improvement as a team throughout the year. We learned some good lessons and will only use that to get stronger in the future.”
The contest with the Red Raiders was a rematch from the regular season finale played six days earlier. The margin was just as tight this time, but the Bulldogs pulled through while first taking the doubles point. At the No. 2 doubles spot, freshman Ella Dean became the program’s new record holder for most doubles wins in a single season (15) while combining with Tara Ferrel on a 6-0 victory. Then at No. 3, Concordia got the win it had to have when Molano and Gabrielle Heiser teamed up for a 7-5 decision. Northwestern won at No. 1, 6-3.
The team win was clinched when the Bulldogs prevailed in singles at the Nos. 1, 3 and 5 spots. Molano took care of business at the top of the lineup, 7-6 (2), 6-4. The team victory was eventually clinched with wins by Alana Lopez Pagan at No. 2, 6-2, 6-1, and Tara Ferrel at No. 5, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1. The Lincoln North Star High School product Ferrel came through in what was her final career singles victory. The remainder of the singles lineup included Tessa Blough at No. 2, Dean at No. 4 and Brooke Hosick at No. 6. The matches at 4 and 6 were unfinished when the team victory was sewed up.
The quarterfinal win pushed Concordia to the semifinals for a clash with a Warrior squad that ran through the regular season with an undefeated GPAC mark. Midland (17-2) motored to the championship by taking all five matches that were completed (two doubles and three singles). Midland won each of those matchups in decisive fashion. The Warriors will play Morningside in Saturday’s championship clash.
Ferrel is the lone senior on the 2022-23 roster. The GPAC tournament singles lineup featured three freshmen, two sophomores and Ferrel.