FULTON, Mo. – The Concordia University Women’s Tennis team ventured down to Fulton, Mo., for a pair of nonconference matches with NAIA opponents on Saturday (Feb. 25). The results were a 6-1 win over Tabor College (Kan.) of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and a 5-0 loss endured at the hands of 23rd-ranked William Woods University (Mo.), a member of the American Midwest Conference. The Bulldogs had been idle since their 4-3 win over Pratt Community College on Feb. 18.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad now stands at 3-4 overall while having the next six days off from match competition.
“It was a good team win over Tabor and we saw some competitive matches versus William Woods,” Long said. “Everyone was able to contribute, which will give us more experience heading into March.”
Concordia nearly swept away Tabor as it won all three doubles matches and five of six singles decisions. In contested doubles matches, Tessa Blough and Alana Lopez Pagan won by a 6-4 score at No. 1 and Ella Dean and Tara Ferrel triumphed by a 6-2 score at No. 2. The Bluejays did not fill the No. 3 spot.
In singles, winners were Mariana Molano at No. 1, Alana Lopez Pagan at No. 2, Gabrielle Heiser at No. 3, Kylie Freudenburg at No. 5 and Brooke Hosick at No. 6. Heiser won in a tiebreaker in the most competitive singles clash. Sarah Brunk picked up Tabor’s lone team point by coming out on top at No. 4.
Three matches went unfinished in the tussle with William Woods, a nationally ranked foe. Concordia was clipped at the No. 2 doubles spot (held down by Dean and Ferrel) and got a good fight at No. 6 singles from Hosick, who was defeated, 7-5, 6-1. At No. 1, the regionally ranked Molano was beaten, 6-3, 6-2. The Owls are 2-4 overall but have played a series of matches against NCAA Division II opponents.
The Bulldogs will continue action next Saturday (March 4) with a 12 p.m. CT match at Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Sterling College (Kan.). Concordia will aim to avenge last season's 5-2 home loss endured at the hands of the Warriors.