SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Tennis comes into the week on a six-match hot streak. The Bulldogs haven’t seen defeat since Feb. 1 and will look to continue against Mount Marty in Seward on Sunday (March 23). CUNE will compete against Kansas Wesleyan University and Avila University (Mo.) at the Salina Tennis Alliance Tennis Center the day before.
This Week
Saturday, March 22 at Kansas Wesleyan (4-1), 11 a.m.
--Location: Salina Tennis Alliance Tennis Center (Salina, Kan.)
Saturday, March 22 vs. Avila (3-3), 2 p.m.
--Location: Salina Tennis Alliance Tennis Center (Salina, Kan.)
Sunday, March 23 vs. Mount Marty (3-4), 1 p.m.
--Live Updates: @cunebulldogs X/Formerly Twitter | Location: Walz Fieldhouse (Seward, Neb.)
The Bulldogs have a chance to match the best start in program history by the 2008-09 team which posted an 8-1 record under former coach Amy Harms. The current Concordia Women’s squad has a 7-1 record and has three upcoming bouts to improve its overall showing. Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad knocked down the last six opponents in dominant fashion including Mount Marty, 7-0, Ottawa University (Kan.), 5-2, Baker University (Kan.), 7-0, Friends University (Kan.), 5-2, Bethany College (Kan.), 6-1, and Barton Community College (Kan.), 6-1.
In 2024, the Bulldogs finished in third place (5-2) behind Morningside and Midland and went 11-8 overall. In her first season, Hart and company defeated Mount Marty (7-0), Northwestern (5-2), Doane (6-1), CSM (5-2) and Hastings (5-2). The GPAC has dropped to seven teams due to Midland canceling its season.
Freshman Ishane Derman has a 7-0 (4-0 at No. 3) singles record in her opening season. The rising star claimed the Kansas Wesleyan Invite championship in the fall and has dominated her opponents only going to tiebreak final sets once in the seven wins.
Her older sister Chakira Derman has a 6-2 record at No. 2 and has a 3-1 doubles record with Alana Lopez Pagan. Chakira, a sophomore from Lomé, Africa, was awarded the GPAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week (Feb. 24-March 2) after going 3-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles in Kansas.
Upcoming Opponents
Mount Marty is 3-4 with wins over Northwestern, 7-0, Grand View University (Iowa), 6-1, and Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.), 7-0. The Lancers fell to common opponent McPherson College (Kan.), 0-7. Kansas Wesleyan is 4-1 overall and defeated Baker, 5-2, Bethany, 4-3, and Evangel University (Mo.), 6-1. Danielle Slack leads the team with six overall wins (6-10), and Kristi Henderson has a 4-2 record (2-0 at No. 4). Avila (3-3) defeated Baker, 5-2, Southwestern College (Kan.), 6-1, and Tabor College (Kan.), 6-1.
Up next
Concordia will host the returning conference champions Morningside on Saturday (March 29). The two teams are set to clash at the Bulldog Tennis Courts at 12 p.m. CT.