CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The second of four-straight matches against NCAA Division III opponents occurred on Monday (March 9) as the Concordia University women’s tennis team won for the third time in its last four outings. In action in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Bulldogs toppled Coe College, 7-2. The Kohawks (8-8) compete as a member of the America Rivers Conference.
Second-year head coach David DeSimone’s squad appeared to come back stronger after falling at undefeated Grinnell College (Iowa) on Sunday. Concordia is 5-2 this season.
“Our women played well today,” DeSimone said. “We won three third-set tiebreakers, which really made a big difference. Our depth once again was displayed as the middle and bottom of our lineup played very well against a good Coe team.”
The Bulldogs got the upper hand after doubles play by earning victories from the duos of juniors Allison Marshall and Claudia Miranda Viera at No. 1 and juniors Ansley Gates and Katie Seja at No. 3. Gates and Seja cruised to an 8-2 decision.
Concordia then won five of the six singles matches. Tense tie-breaker matches were won by senior Kirsten Wagner at No. 2 (6-4, 2-6, 12-10), Marshall at No. 3 (5-7, 7-5, 12-10) and Seja at No. 6 (6-2, 6-7, 10-6). In addition, Gates won handily at No. 4 (6-1, 6-1) and freshman Tara Ferrel claimed a win at No. 5 (6-4, 6-0). At 5-2 in singles play this season, Marshall is the team’s wins leader.
The Bulldog women’s tennis team will have Tuesday off from competition before playing at Central College at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday. The Dutch (7-7) are located in Pella, Iowa.