SEWARD, Neb. – Nina Milic competed with fire to leave no doubt and clinch the team match point against Pratt Community College on Thursday (Feb. 12). Concordia University, Nebraska got behind after paired play but took four of the singles bouts to defeat the Beavers, 4-3, in Walz Fieldhouse. Milic went unbeaten in her singles and doubles competitions.
The Bulldogs are 4-1 overall in duals with a nine-day break before the next match.
“We battled really hard,” Head Coach Lisa Hart said. “They are a talented team, and it shows why they are ranked No. 14 in junior college tennis. We are playing well right now and competing hard. I was proud of Ishane and Alana for battling in their matches when they got down early in different sets. Mariana is playing at a really high level and it showed today. Nina did great coming out with intensity. We are going to work on some things the next week or so and get ready for Ottawa.”
With two singles matches remaining and a narrow 3-2 lead, No. 6 Milic delivered a double bagel (6-0, 6-0) to defeat Alyse Zimmerman. The sophomore, out of Belgrade, Serbia, won the third match of the 2025-26 season.
After dropping the doubles point, the Bulldogs needed to take back momentum and got behind their leader, No. 1 Mariana Molano. The Bogotá, Colombia, native didn’t waste any time and was one game shy of yet another shutout (6-1, 6-0).
Veteran Alana Lopez Pagan at No. 3, sliced a first-set bagel (6-0), but the Beavers’ Ebonie Russell began to fight back in the second. Lopez Pagan would win out (7-5) by a slim margin. Down 3-0 in her singles match, No. 4 Ishane Derman only surrendered one more game for that 6-4 set victory. Ishane would continue to roll in the second set for a 6-2 set triumph over Sandra Rodriguez Dominguez.
Concordia would drop No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Chakira Derman and Milic came together to defeat Zimmerman and Barbara Mattar at No. 3s in a 6-3 set route.
Chakira and Alexa Richert also competed in singles.
The Bulldogs (4-1) will travel to Grand Island, Neb., and face Ottawa University (Kan.), 0-0, on Saturday (Feb. 21). Concordia will hit the first serve at 11 a.m. CT at the Grand Island Tennis Center. CUNE defeated the Braves, 5-2, in spring of 2025.