SEWARD, Neb. – In the final home match in the collegiate career of Megan Hakes, the Concordia University Women’s Tennis team celebrated with a win. Hakes earned a victory at No. 4 singles as part of a 5-2 team triumph over NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan University on Thursday (April 21). The Bulldogs took two of three doubles and four of six singles matches while closing out the regular season.
Head Coach Cam Long’s squad moved to 6-10 overall while toppling the former GPAC rival. Graduate Assistant Mark Batoon oversaw the team while Long coached the men’s team at Doane on Thursday.
Said Batoon, “Overall, the women played well despite the windy conditions. I was pleased with the level of sportsmanship that they displayed during the matches as well. We hope to use this win as a confidence booster leading up to the GPAC tournament next week.”
The team outcome came down to the final two singles matches on the court – No. 1 and No. 6. With Concordia leading 3-2, freshman Kylie Freudenburg ran away with the second set and won, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 6 and ensured a Bulldog win. For good measure, Sofia Morales eked out the win at No. 1, taking a 10-point tiebreaker over Brooke Sailer. The win marked Morales’ 10th of the season. In addition, Hakes (No. 4; 7-6, 6-3) and Tara Ferrel (No. 2; 6-3, 6-4) were singles winners for Concordia.
The Bulldogs took the upper hand after doubles thanks to winning performances from the combos of Morales and Blough at No. 1 (6-3) and Ferrel and Julia Phillips at No. 3 (6-4). In sum, six Concordia players won in doubles and/or singles on the evening.
A native of Erie, Colo., Hakes has been a constant in the lineup this season after steadily improving throughout her career. She’s become an essential part of the team and has produced six singles wins in 2022.
Said Hakes, “I just wanted to make this match special and make the most of it and encourage my teammates to do the same thing. You’re going to realize these things go fast. It seems like a lot of matches – and then you’re done. You have to enjoy it. You have to embrace it … My freshman year I was nowhere near playing. The last couple years I was kind of in the lineup, but I wasn’t really playing a lot. The last year I was like, okay, I’m going to make the most of my experience.”
The Bulldogs will have more than a week to get ready for the GPAC tournament at Fremont High School in Fremont, Neb., April 29-30. The pairings are yet to be determined, but Concordia will be playing in a quarterfinal match on the morning of April 29. The Bulldogs reached the semifinals last season.