LINDSBORG, Kan. – The best start for Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Tennis since 2009 continues during the weekend spent in the state of Kansas. The winning streak has stretched to five thanks to Saturday (March 8)’s 6-1 victory at Bethany College, located in Lindsborg. Only a tight win for the Swedes at No. 6 singles allowed the home team to avoid the sweep. Five Bulldogs won both their singles and doubles matches in evening action at Lindquist Tennis Center.
Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad now stands at 6-1 overall. Not since the 2008-09 squad started 8-1 has a Concordia Women’s Tennis team won at least six of its first seven matches to begin a campaign.
The Bulldogs are now a perfect 4-0 in the month of March and haven’t tasted defeat since the very first day of February. In doubles play in Lindsborg, Concordia throttled the Swedes, winning by respective scores of 6-0, 6-2 and 6-1. Hart’s doubles tandems included Mariana Molano and Ishane Derman at No. 1, Chakira Derman and Alana Lopez Pagan at No. 2 and Tessa Blough and Alexa Richert at No. 3.
A sophomore from Gillette, Wyo., Richert clinched the team win when she breezed to a 6-2, 6-1, win at No. 5 singles. Bulldogs at the Nos. 1 through 4 spots also triumphed in straight sets: Molano at No. 1 (6-0, 6-3), Chakira Derman at No. 2 (6-2, 6-0), Ishane Derman at No. 3 (6-4, 6-4) and Lopez Pagan at No. 4 (6-2, 6-0). At No. 6, senior Tessa Blough narrowly lost in a tiebreaker. Ishane Derman improved her season singles mark to a perfect 7-0 in dual matches. Lopez Pagan ran her record to 5-1.
Bethany (0-4) fell for the fourth time this spring semester. The Swedes lost earlier in the day, 6-1, while up against NCAA Division II Fort Hays State University. As for Concordia, its win streak has also featured victories over Mount Marty, Ottawa University (Kan.), Baker University (Kan.) and Friends University (Kan.).
The Kansas weekend tour will make a stop in Great Bend on Sunday. The Bulldogs are set to take on Barton Community College at 12 p.m. CT in a men’s and women’s doubleheader. The Cougars compete as a member of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.