SALINA, Kan. – Concordia Women’s Tennis competed in two separate tournaments this past weekend (Sept. 20-22) at the Salina Central High School Tennis Courts. Kansas Wesleyan University hosted its invitational and the NAIA Central-West ITA Regional Championship. Freshman Ishane Derman claimed the KWU Invite Championship in her first collegiate tournament.
No. 4 Ishane, out of Lomé, Africa, entered the Coyote tournament with one dual of collegiate experience but became the champion after winning five straight matches on Saturday. She finished off her first three opponents with dominance, surrendering only six games. Faced with the No. 1 overall seed, Ishane defeated Ava Bolin (8-5) and punched her ticket to the invite championship match. She would clash with No. 2 Alejandra Parra and left no doubt with an 8-2 final score to reign victorious in the women’s singles draw.
In ITA Regionals, No. 10 Mariana Molano and No. 14 Chakira Derman won back to back matches on day one. Molano crushed her competition winning only giving up three games in her first two performances. On day two, Molano fell to No. 7 Tracy Llamas nearly forcing a third tiebreak set. Chakira defeated Carlotta Klee (6-0, 6-1) and won in comeback fashion over Sophia Hausner (0-6, 6-2, 11-9). Eventually, she would fall short against No. 3 and tournament champion Line Jensen.
In the KWU tournament, No. 6 Shea Kramer won two straight over Kelsee Adam (8-4) and Julieta Faisal (8-6). In her quarterfinal match, Kramer fell to Maria Lama (5-8) ending her time in Salina. No. 5 Nina Milic went 1-2 in the tournament.
Alexa Richert (1-1) and Alana Lopez Pagan (0-2) also competed in the Central-West ITA Regionals singles.
Concordia will be back on the courts this weekend in the GPAC Fall Individual Tennis Tournament. The draw will be held at the Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln, Neb. on Sept. 27-28.