SEWARD, Neb. – The start of conference play will arrive on Saturday for Concordia University Women’s Tennis, which has played its first 11 matches of the 2022-23 season versus non-league opponents. The Bulldogs will welcome Hastings to Seward for an 11 a.m. CT first serve in the GPAC opener for both sides. Head Coach Cam Long’s squad is fresh off a 5-4 win over NCAA Division III Central College (Iowa). Concordia will carry an overall record of 6-5 into Saturday’s match.
Saturday vs. Hastings (5-3, 0-0 GPAC), 11 a.m.
--Location: Bulldog Tennis Courts (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs began the season ranked No. 5 in the GPAC (according to the official poll released on NAIA.org) and have remained in that spot throughout the spring. The favorites in the conference heading into GPAC play include the likes of Midland, Morningside and Doane. The Warriors swept 2022 GPAC regular season and tournament titles and represented the league at the national tournament. The first conference match of this season was played this past Sunday when Doane defeated Mount Marty, 7-0.
· Concordia owns a record of 3-1 this March with the lone loss being a 4-3 decision that could have gone either way. The wins in March have come against Sterling College (Kan.), 7-0, Kansas Wesleyan University, 7-0, and Central College, 5-4. Previously, the Bulldogs went 2-2 in February and went 1-2 back in the fall when three dual matches were contested.
· Perhaps there were lessons learned in the 4-3 loss to Bethany that helped get Concordia over the hump when it edged Central on Tuesday. The Bulldogs clinched the match over the Dutch when Tessa Blough at No. 2 and Tara Ferrel at No. 3 claimed victories after both dropping the first sets of their matches. Blough’s 3-6, 4-6, 1-0 (4), victory made the team score 5-2 at that point. In addition, Mariana Molano at No. 1 and Alana Lopez Pagan at No. 2 pulled out wins. Their efforts made up for a 2-1 deficit after doubles. Ferrel combined with Ella Dean on a victory at No. 2 doubles.
· Through the first 11 dual matches, Concordia players have combined to go 32-31 in singles and 20-12 in doubles matches. Molano owns a four-match win streak and has pushed her overall singles record to 7-4. Two other Bulldogs have notched four singles wins apiece: Lopez Pagan (4-4) and Brooke Hosick (4-6). In terms of winning percentage, the most successful doubles tandem has been Dean and Heiser, who are 3-0 when paired together. Meanwhile, Dean and Ferrel have teamed up on a 4-2 record together.
· Hastings has started out 5-3 this season with its most recent outing resulting in a 4-3 loss to Oakland Community College. That decision snapped a three-match win streak for the Broncos, currently ranked sixth in the GPAC, right behind Concordia. Hastings has improved from last season when it went 3-13 overall, 2-5 GPAC. The Bulldogs won last season’s meeting with the Broncos, 6-1.
Next week
In a rescheduled match, the Bulldogs will play at Baker University on March 28 before turning around to host Morningside on April 1.