Koll’s play at No. 1 offers bright spot in loss to Bethany

SEWARD, Neb. – Senior Katelyn Koll won at No. 1 singles for the second-straight night, serving as a bright spot in a _ loss to visiting Bethany College (Kan.) on Thursday evening. The Swedes quickly claimed victory by winning all three doubles matches as well as the first two singles bouts that went final.

Concordia fell to 0-3 on the season despite competitive play at the top of its lineup.

“Bethany as always was very solid,” said graduate assistant coach James Ingrahm. “The girls fought really hard. Our experienced players played probably the best tennis I’ve seen them play.”

Koll earned a 6-2, 6-2 win over Kara Agamaite to move to 2-1 on the season and 22-13 since the start of her sophomore season. Like last season’s matchup with Bethany, Koll came through at the top of the lineup.

“Katelyn showed up and went to work,” Ingrahm said. “Her opponent was a little hobbled but sometimes that can throw you off your game.”

Bethany dominated many of the remaining matches. It dropped only a single game combined at the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles positions and won by wide margins in straight-set decisions in 4, 5 and 6 singles.

The Bulldogs’ Grace Hollenbeck lost 6-4, 7-5 to Juliana Bezerra in two tightly-contested sights. In a pro-set, Elyse Kohl fell, 9-7 to the Swedes’ Mackenzi Choitz at No. 3.

A year ago the Bulldogs defeated Bethany 5-4 to open the season. The Swedes finished 10-6 overall and 5-2 in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference action in 2013.

The most resistance in doubles came at No. 1.

The Bulldogs get another shot at Bethany at 4 p.m. on Friday as part of a busy weekend. Concordia will also play two conference matches in Fremont on Saturday.