2019-20 Women's Tennis Schedule/Results
6-3 overall | 0-0 GPAC | Season Stats | Roster
*Remainder of season canceled on March 16 due to coronavirus pandemic.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time/Result | Record |
| Sept. 5 | William Jewell College | Liberty, Mo. | W, 6-1 | 1-0 |
| Sept. 6-7 | Missouri Valley College Tournament | Marshall, Mo. | 9 a.m. | |
| Sept. 13 | GPAC Individual Tournament | Seward/Crete, Neb. | 10 a.m. | |
| Sept. 14 | GPAC Individual Tournament | Lincoln, Neb. (Woods TC) | 8 a.m. | |
| Sept. 20-22 | ITA Central Regional Championships | Maize South HS (Wichita, Kan.) | ||
| Sept. 28 | Bulldog Alumni Meet | Seward, Neb. (Outdoor) | 10 a.m. | |
| Feb. 8 | Grand View University (Iowa) | Seward, Neb. (Fieldhouse) | W, 6-1 | 2-0 |
| Feb. 21 | Sterling College (Kan.) | Lincoln, Neb. | L, 0-7 | 2-1 |
| Feb. 29 | Bethel College (Kan.) | North Newton, Kan. | W, 5-2 | 3-1 |
| March 6 | Baker University (Kan.) | Seward, Neb. (Outdoor) | W, 4-3 | 4-1 |
| March 8 | Grinnell College (Iowa) | Grinnell, Iowa | L, 0-9 | 4-2 |
| March 9 | Coe College (Iowa) | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | W, 7-2 | 5-2 |
| March 11 | Central College (Iowa) | Pella, Iowa | L, 4-5 | 5-3 |
| March 12 | Simpson College (Iowa) | Indianola, Iowa | W, 9-0 | 6-3 |
| March 22 | Truman State University (Mo.) | Seward, Neb. (Outdoor) | CANCELED | |
| March 25 | *Hastings College | Hastings, Neb. | CANCELED | |
| March 28 | *Morningside College | Sioux City, Iowa | CANCELED | |
| April 1 | *Doane University | Crete, Neb. | CANCELED | |
| April 7 | *College of Saint Mary | Seward, Neb. (Outdoor) | CANCELED | |
| April 10 | *Midland University | Seward, Neb. (Outdoor) | CANCELED | |
| April 17 | *Northwestern College | Seward, Neb. (Outdoor) | CANCELED | |
| April 18 | *Mount Marty College | Yankton, S.D. | CANCELED | |
| GPAC Tournament: April 24-25 | ||||
| April 24-25 | TBA | Fremont, Neb. | CANCELED | |
| May 12-16 | NAIA National Championships | Mobile, Ala. | CANCELED |
2019-20 Roster
| Name | Ht. | Yr. | Hometown | Previous School |
| Lyric Allen | 5-2 | So. | Lincoln, Neb | Lincoln Christian |
| Angela Bell | 5-6 | Jr. | Preoria, Ariz. | Centennial |
| Luissa Esquival | 5-4 | So. | Morelia, Mexico | Universidad La Salle |
| Tara Ferrel | 5-4 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln North Star |
| Ansley Gates | 5-5 | Jr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest |
| Megan Hakes | 5-6 | So. | Erie, Colo. | Erie |
| Katy Krejci | 5-7 | So. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest |
| Allison Marshall | 5-4 | Jr. | Woodbury, Minn. | East Ridge |
| Claudia Miranda Viera | 5-7 | Jr. | Torrejon, Spain | IES Valle-Inclan |
| Lindee Schults | 5-7 | Sr. | Hastings, Neb. | Adams Central |
| Kaitlin Seja | 5-5 | Jr. | Loveland, Colo. | Thompson Valley |
| Madi Smith | 5-1 | Fr. | Lee's Summit, Mo. | Lee's Summit North |
| Kirsten Wagner | 5-7 | Sr. | York, Neb. | York |
| Sarah Woodward | 5-2 | Jr. | Gering, Neb. | Scotssbluff |
STAFF
David DeSimone, Head Coach (2nd Year)
Thomas Greeff, Graduate Assistant Coach
Spring review: Concordia tennis
Lineup depth had become a theme in the early going of the spring for both Concordia University tennis squads. That notion was evident during a hectic stretch from March 6 – 12 that saw a total of 11 Bulldog matches (six men’s, five women’s) over spring break. The full potential of head coach David DeSimone’s programs would go unrealized as play was halted and eventually shut down in mid-March.
As it turned out, both teams were able to end their seasons in winning fashion and both were ranked in the top three of the GPAC in the official polls released by the NAIA. With so much uncertain over that spring break period, Concordia players did their best to maintain focus on the task at hand.
“Understandably it was a little bit off of tennis,” DeSimone said. “Once we got on the court and started warmups we were solely in that moment. We were concerned about what was going on off the court and we were concerned about that, but once we stepped on the court it was about getting the most out of the match. What can we do to get the most out of ourselves and our teammates in these few hours?”
The Concordia women had been coming off a GPAC tournament runner-up finish in 2019 and had hopes of returning to that stage. Behind the likes of senior Kirsten Wagner and junior Claudia Miranda Viera, the Bulldogs went 6-3 this season and were prepared for conference play after going up against a very strong Grinnell College (Iowa) team. Meanwhile, the men posted a 6-4 mark after ending spring break with victories over NCAA Division III opponents in Central College and Simpson College.
The spring break tour in Iowa – and the season as a whole – wrapped up on March 12. With conference action right around the corner, the coronavirus pandemic caused the cancellation of the remainder of the season, as announced on March 16. A chance at the program’s first-ever national tournament appearance will have to wait at least one more year.
“Everyone was disappointed not to be able to finish the season on their own terms,” DeSimone said. “But they also understood that this was a necessary step to be taken. Everyone was doing all they could to keep each other healthy and safe. We had the opportunity to process that and see other teams ending their seasons before we did. We could see it was a matter of time for us. Some people are still processing this and that’s normal. I think everyone on our team is in a pretty good place.”
A year earlier, star senior Marlene Maier (17-3 singles record) and solid depth resulted in a near miss in a hotly contested GPAC tournament championship match versus Hastings. This year’s team did not necessarily have one individual standout, but a lot of similarly talented competitors throughout the lineup. In singles play, the Bulldogs went 7-2 at the Nos. 3, 5 and 6 spots. They were also 7-2 at the No. 3 doubles position. Junior Allison Marshall led the way with her 7-2 singles record (mostly at No. 3 singles).
The men were similar in their ability to compete in the back half of the lineup. Sophomore Isaac Howes (6-4) and freshman Eduardo Rojas (6-4) topped the team in singles victories. Concordia was most successful at the No. 4 singles (7-3) and No. 2 doubles (7-3) positions this spring. The combo of sophomore Jack Kitson and Rojas were 5-1 together at the No. 2 doubles spot. Only one GPAC team had more wins than the Bulldogs.
The GPAC title races appeared to be pretty wide open with the Midland men and Doane women being the favorites (according to the most recent polls) heading into conference matches. DeSimone believes his teams would have been in the thick of things. Said the 2019 GPAC Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year, “I thought we were doing a lot of good things on the women’s side. We knew we played the strongest team we would see all year in Grinnell. We went away from the spring trip with a lot of confidence knowing we had taken strides forward. I would have loved to have seen how the conference schedule would have played out.”
DeSimone had plenty of experience at the top of the men’s lineup to lean upon thanks to the presence of the likes of senior Luke Zoller and junior Jeremy Berryman. Said DeSimone, “I feel like our men were starting to put into place a lot of things we were talking about in practice. We were trying out some different doubles combinations and would probably still be doing that if we were still playing. We had played two of the best teams we would play all year and came away with a lot of positives. I felt like we were prepared for our conference matches.”
No spring sport athletes were charged a season of competition due to the unusual circumstances. Regardless, this will still signal the end for several seniors. DeSimone’s 2020 roster featured four seniors on the men’s side and three on the women’s side. At the very least, they can take pride in knowing they’ve raised the profile and expectations for the program. While elusive to this point, GPAC titles are realistically attainable in the near future.
With sports put on hold, the fall of 2020 will be a crucial time of development for collegiate tennis programs. The Bulldogs have begun playing more countable matches during the fall. With that in mind, there’s plenty to look forward to for those returning for the 2020-21 academic year.
“We will have to be intentional with that fall time for sure,” DeSimone said. “Hopefully we can get some good quality time outdoors and put in some good work during that time. I’m confident that our players are staying fit and staying healthy and getting on the court when they can. We’re not getting that time on the court with each other right now and it’ll probably show (in the fall), but it will be the case for everyone. If we can take advantage of that fall time then we’ll be in a good spot come spring.”
Shutout victory wraps up spring break
INDIANOLA, Iowa – A spring break tour of Iowa is in the books for the Concordia University women’s tennis team, which made its way to Indianola, Iowa, for Thursday (March 12)’s match at Simpson College. The Bulldogs won all but one set while blanking the Storm, 9-0, in an outdoor match against a fourth-straight NCAA Division III opponent.
Second-year head coach David DeSimone’s squad bounced back from a close 5-4 loss at Central College (Iowa) on Wednesday. Concordia moved its overall record to 6-3.
“Both teams played really well in some difficult outdoor conditions,” DeSimone said of Thursday’s match. “The women had a few close matches where we played well at some big moments. Ansley Gates won five-consecutive points to close out her super tiebreaker, 10-8. Kirsten Wagner played a great second set tiebreaker to win that match as well.”
While Wagner and Gates gutted out hotly contested matches, junior Katie Seja cruised to a 6-0, 6-0, win at No. 6 singles. Wagner held down the No. 1 spot and Gates slotted in at No. 4. In the other positions, junior Claudia Miranda Viera won 6-2, 6-0, at No. 3, junior Allison Marshall won 6-2, 6-0, at No. 3 and freshman Tara Ferrel won 6-1, 6-0, at No. 5.
In doubles, Concordia proved especially overwhelming at the back end of the lineup with the tandems of Ferrel and Wagner at No. 2 and sophomore Katy Krejci and senior Lindee Schultz at No. 3 both triumphing by 8-2 scores. At No. 1, Marshall and Miranda Viera teamed up on an 8-5 win.
Simpson (3-7) competes as a member of the American Rivers Conference. Concordia was the first NAIA school the Storm had played against this season.
The situation will be fluid moving forward. The Bulldogs were scheduled to host Truman State University (Mo.) on March 22, but that match will be postponed. The GPAC announced on March 13 that all-conference member athletic activities will be suspended during the time period of March 16 through April 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Central clips Concordia
PELLA, Iowa – The margin was razor thin on Wednesday (March 11) as the Concordia University women’s tennis team met up with Central College in Pella, Iowa. The NCAA Division III foe held off the Bulldogs, 5-4, in a hotly contested match. The top three singles spots all came down to tiebreakers.
Second-year head coach David DeSimone’s squad had beaten Coe College (Iowa) the day before as part of its spring break in Iowa. Concordia is 5-3 overall with one match left for the week.
“The women played well overall but lost some key super tiebreakers today,” DeSimone said. “We are excited to have the opportunity to play again and get better tomorrow.”
The Bulldogs fell behind 2-1 after doubles after dropping decisions at the Nos. 1 and 2 spots. They managed to salvage a victory at No. 3 doubles thanks to the work of juniors Ansley Gates and Katie Seja. They triumphed by an 8-6 score.
Senior Kirsten Wagner (No. 1) (6-1, 6-7, 10-6) and junior Claudia Miranda Viera (No. 2) (7-6, 1-6, 10-6) both fell in three sets as part of a series of nail-biting singles matches. The victories for Concordia came from No. 3 Allison Marshall (6-4, 4-6, 16-14), No. 5 Tara Ferrel (6-2, 6-1) and No. 6 Katie Krejci (6-2, 7-5).
The Dutch moved to 8-7 overall. With the help of Maddie Hartley, who won at No. 2 singles and at No. 1 doubles.
The final match of spring break week for the Bulldogs will take place on Thursday at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. First serve is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT.
Bulldogs rebound at Coe
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The second of four-straight matches against NCAA Division III opponents occurred on Monday (March 9) as the Concordia University women’s tennis team won for the third time in its last four outings. In action in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Bulldogs toppled Coe College, 7-2. The Kohawks (8-8) compete as a member of the America Rivers Conference.
Second-year head coach David DeSimone’s squad appeared to come back stronger after falling at undefeated Grinnell College (Iowa) on Sunday. Concordia is 5-2 this season.
“Our women played well today,” DeSimone said. “We won three third-set tiebreakers, which really made a big difference. Our depth once again was displayed as the middle and bottom of our lineup played very well against a good Coe team.”
The Bulldogs got the upper hand after doubles play by earning victories from the duos of juniors Allison Marshall and Claudia Miranda Viera at No. 1 and juniors Ansley Gates and Katie Seja at No. 3. Gates and Seja cruised to an 8-2 decision.
Concordia then won five of the six singles matches. Tense tie-breaker matches were won by senior Kirsten Wagner at No. 2 (6-4, 2-6, 12-10), Marshall at No. 3 (5-7, 7-5, 12-10) and Seja at No. 6 (6-2, 6-7, 10-6). In addition, Gates won handily at No. 4 (6-1, 6-1) and freshman Tara Ferrel claimed a win at No. 5 (6-4, 6-0). At 5-2 in singles play this season, Marshall is the team’s wins leader.
The Bulldog women’s tennis team will have Tuesday off from competition before playing at Central College at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday. The Dutch (7-7) are located in Pella, Iowa.
Concordia falls at undefeated Grinnell
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Concordia University women’s tennis team got a taste of some top-notch competition Sunday (March 8) afternoon as spring break got started. Host Grinnell College of NCAA Division III blanked the Bulldogs, 9-0, at Bear Center Field House in Grinnell, Iowa. The three doubles matches were each counted individually towards the team scoring.
Second-year head coach David DeSimone’s squad had been coming off a 4-3 road victory over Baker University (Kan.). Concordia is 4-2 overall with three matches left this week. Meanwhile, the Pioneers are a perfect 12-0.
“Grinnell is very good,” DeSimone said. “We had some good things happening on every court. We can walk away from that match with some specific items with which each person can continue to find success as our season progresses. It was a good opportunity for our team to have this match leading up to conference play.”
After posting a 16-9 overall mark last season, Grinnell may be primed for even bigger things in 2020. The Midwest Conference member did not have to sweat the outcome of many of the nine matches on Sunday. The hope is that this competition will make the Bulldogs better. At the No. 3 singles spot, junior Ansley Gates pushed Izzy Green (6-0, 6-3 decision) in the second set. DeSimone saw progress beyond the raw scores.
The tour of NCAA D-III foes within the state of Iowa will continue on Monday when Concordia will be at Coe College in Cedar Rapids. First serve is slated for 3:30 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs will also take on Central College on Wednesday and Simpson College on Thursday.
Concordia comes back to defeat Baker
SEWARD, Neb. – After dropping the team point in doubles, the Concordia University women’s team won four singles matches and rallied to claim victory at home on Friday (March 6). The back end of the lineup came through to lift the Bulldogs to a 4-3 triumph that came down to the wire. Baker University (Kan.) visited Seward for the nonconference tilt.
Second-year head coach David DeSimone’s squad also knocked off Bethel College (Kan.) last week and has moved to 4-1.
“We competed well on every court,” DeSimone said. “Baker is a talented team and I thought everyone played well. Allison Marshall had a big singles win at No. 3 and then Ansley Gates came back after dropping the first set to win in three and clinch the meet.”
Gates fell by a 3-6 score in the first set before claiming a 3-6, 6-3, 10-5, victory at No. 4 singles. In the other contested singles win, Marshall breezed to a 6-0, 6-1, win over Patricia Moore. The matches at Nos. 5 and 6 singles were forfeited to the Bulldogs. Concordia also was credited with a victory at No. 3 doubles, a spot held down by junior Katie Seja and sophomore Katie Krejci.
The next match on the docket will be Sunday at Grinnell College (Iowa) with first serve at 2 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs will play four-straight contests against NCAA Division III opponents.
Concordia bounces back, wins at Bethel
NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – After enduring its first loss of the season a week earlier, the Concordia University women’s tennis team rebounded on Saturday (Feb. 29) by claiming victory at Bethel College (Kan.). The Bulldogs won four of six singles matches and two of three doubles contests while taking a 5-2 team decision. The back half of the Concordia lineup again thrived.
Second-year head coach David DeSimone’s squad also owns wins over William Jewell College (Mo.) and Grand View University (Iowa) and is now 3-1 this season.
Opponents will have a challenge matching the depth of the Bulldogs all season long. Beginning with doubles, Concordia earned a 6-4 win at No. 2 from the duo of senior Kirsten Wagner and freshman Tara Ferrel. The No. 3 position went uncontested, allowing Concordia to take the doubles point.
In singles, contested victories were claimed by junior Allison Marshall at No. 3 (6-1, 6-1), Ferrel at No. 4 (6-1, 6-1) and junior Ansley Gates at No. 5 (0-6, 6-3, 6-1). Gates impressively shook off defeat in the first set to battle back. On the flip side, the Threshers were superior at the top of the lineup. They won matches at Nos. 1 and 2 singles and at No. 1 doubles.
Next up, the Bulldogs will host Baker University (Kan.) inside the Fieldhouse next Friday (March 6) for a 5 p.m. CT first serve. Last season Concordia went to Baldwin City, Kan., and earned a 7-2 victory over the Wildcats, a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Bulldogs fall for first time in 2020
LINCOLN, Neb. – In action for the first time since Feb. 8, the Concordia University women’s tennis team fell victim to Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member Sterling College. The match took place indoors at Genesis Health Club in Lincoln, Neb., on Friday (Feb. 21). The Bulldogs managed to claim a doubles victory, but fell, 7-0, in team scoring.
Second-year head coach David DeSimone’s squad had opened this season with 6-1 wins over both William Jewell College (Mo.) and Grand View University (Iowa). Concordia is 2-1 overall.
“In doubles the difference was a few key deuce points that didn’t go our way,” DeSimone said. “The no-add scoring didn’t help us today. When you lose one or two deuce points it makes a big difference. In singles we competed well, we just didn’t have quite enough in those key moments to put pressure on them. We need to get better in those situations.”
The combo of junior Ansley Gates and senior Lindee Schultz emerged with a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles. However, the Warriors earned the team doubles point by taking decisions at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, both by 6-4 scores. The Bulldog lineup featured juniors Allison Marshall and Claudia Miranda Viera at No. 1 and senior Kirsten Wagner and freshman Tara Ferrel at No. 2.
In singles, Wagner (No. 2) and Marshall (No. 3) both lost tight battles in the second set against their Sterling opponents. Miranda Viera bumped up to the No. 1 spot. The final three singles positions were filled by Ferrel, sophomore Katy Krejci and freshman Madi Smith.
Sterling began its 2020 season on Thursday by taking on Midland in Lincoln. The Warriors avenged an 8-1 loss to Concordia that occurred on March 1, 2019.
Next up, the Bulldogs will head to Bethel College for a 10 a.m. CT first serve in North Newton, Kan., on Saturday, Feb. 29.
Spring season opens with 6-1 win over Grand View
SEWARD, Neb. – It’s time for the Concordia University women’s tennis team to put its impressive depth to use. In their first home appearance of 2019-20, the Bulldogs took five of six singles matches and two of three doubles contests while defeating Grand View University (Iowa), 6-1, inside the Fieldhouse on Saturday (Feb. 8) afternoon.
Named the 2019 GPAC Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year, David DeSimone likes how things are shaping up. Concordia (2-0) also topped NCAA Division II William Jewell College (Mo.) back in the fall.
“Our women did a lot of good things out there,” DeSimone said. “They competed and battled well. Not everything was going their way, but they found different ways to have some good results. That’s what it’s all about. I liked what I saw and I also think there’s a lot of room for growth and improvement. It’s always nice to start the year off with a win.”
The Bulldogs graduated a couple of key pieces from last year, including No. 1 player Marlene Maier. They hope to make up for it with talent up and down the lineup. Concordia earned the doubles point by triumphing at the Nos. 1 and 2 spots. The duo of juniors Allison Marshall and Claudia Miranda Viera won at No. 1, 6-4, while the combo of senior Kirsten Wagner and freshman Tara Ferrel outdueled its opposition by an identical score.
Those efforts led into singles action, which saw the Bulldogs earn wins from No. 2 Miranda Viera, No. 3 Marshall, No. 4 Ferrel, No. 5 Katy Krejci and No. 6 Luisa Esquivel. Concordia very nearly swept through singles. At No. 1, Wagner was edged in a tiebreaker.
“We’re very even at a lot of spots,” DeSimone said. “I know I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we are incredibly deep. That’s really nice to be able to work with for me as a coach. They push each other every day in practice. We’re interchangeable within a lot of positions.”
Grand View competes as a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs were able to turn around what had been a 6-3 loss at the hands of the Vikings in February of 2019.
The Bulldogs will wait until Friday, Feb. 21 to resume action. On that date, Concordia will take on Sterling College (Kan.) in a match that will begin at 1 p.m. CT at Genesis Health Club in Lincoln, Neb.
Concordia claims four titles at GPAC Invitational
LINCOLN, Neb. – The depth of the Concordia University women’s tennis roster was on full display at this past weekend’s GPAC Invitational (Sept. 13-14) hosted by College of Saint Mary. The Bulldogs also hosted a portion of the individual tournament on Sept. 13 before action ultimately shifted to Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln, Neb.
The GPAC Invite marked the third event of the 2019-20 season for head coach David DeSimone’s squad. Concordia also owns a team victory over NCAA Division II William Jewell College. In the latest outing, the Bulldogs combined for four championships with three coming in singles play. The tournament provided an early look at how the competition within the conference will stack up in the spring.
“There were a lot of good takeaways and a lot of things we need to get better at,” DeSimone said. “We can improve how we’re competing at the top of the lineup and in doubles. We have a lot of depth on the women’s team. We’re very strong all the way through to about 10 deep. Overall I like the way we’re competing and where we’re at on the women’s side.
The GPAC Invite featured A, B, C and D singles brackets and A and B doubles brackets for the women. Concordia won championships in four of those brackets. Singles titles were claimed by junior Ansley Gates in B, junior Katie Seja in C and sophomore Katelyn Krejci in D. The Bulldogs were especially dominant in the B singles tournament with freshman Tara Ferrel placing runner up and senior Lindee Schultz advancing to the semifinals of the consolation rounds. Meanwhile, sophomore Britney Lewis was the runner up in C singles.
In B doubles, Lewis and Shultz teamed up to win the title while Krejci and freshman Madi Smith were B doubles consolation champions. Several other Bulldogs took part in the competition. Sophomore Claudia Miranda-Viera competed in A singles to top the lineup.
Next up is the ITA Central Regional Championships coming up this Friday through Sunday (Sept. 20-22). The venue for the event has been moved to Maize South High School in Wichita, Kan.
Wagner, Bulldogs pick up where they left off in spring
LIBERTY, Mo. – Coming off a record breaking season, the Concordia University women’s tennis program began a new one by knocking off an NCAA Division II opponent. The Bulldogs began their fall schedule by defeating William Jewell College, 6-1, at Clayview Country Club in Liberty, Mo., on Thursday (Sept. 5). It marked the season opener for both sides.
Last season head coach David DeSimone guided Concordia to 15 victories and was named the GPAC Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year. DeSimone is now in year two with a program that moves on without Marlene Maier, who turned in perhaps the best single season by an individual in the school’s history in women’s tennis.
On Thursday, senior Kirsten Wagner took over at the top spot in the singles lineup. Wagner, No. 2 Allison Marshall and No. 3 Angela Bell each earned contested singles victories. Prior to singles, the combos of Wagner and Marshall at No. 1 and Britney Lewis and Tara Ferrel at No. 2 produced victories. The only defeat for the Bulldogs occurred at No. 4 singles.
The Concordia men’s and women’s tennis teams are remaining in Missouri for this weekend’s Missouri Valley College Tournament to be played in Marshall. The event will feature competitors from four institutions.