RIVER FOREST, Ill. –  The 2025 season for the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) men's tennis team has come to an end. Head coach Lenno Lasn finished his fourth year at the helm, guiding the Cougars to learn, grow, and progress throughout the year.
 
Season Recap
The Cougars played two early matches in the fall. On Sept. 13, CUC faced Elmhurst University, and despite Mathieu Pater (Carquefou, France) winning at No. 1 singles (6-0, 6-2), CUC fell 6-1. The team's next match was Oct. 10, when the Cougars were shut out, 7-0, by Roosevelt University.

After the winter break, the Cougars headed back out onto the court on Feb. 8. Nathan Stringer (Milwaukee, Wis.) picked up the Cougars' lone point at No. 2 singles (2-6, 6-2, 10-6), as the squad fell 6-1. Two weeks later on Feb. 22, Concordia competed against both Ripon College and University of Dubuque. Against the Red Hawks, two Cougars had highlight performances. Sam Smith (Munster, Ind.) battled to win his first set 7-6 (9-7 tiebreaker), and then won his second set 6-4 at No. 5 singles. At No. 6 singles, Diego Loveshe (Franklin Park, Ill.) dominated his match, winning 7-5, 6-0. However, the Cougars dropped the match to Ripon 5-2. Later that afternoon, CUC lost the match against University of Dubuque, 7-0. On Feb. 28, the Cougars played Indiana University East. CUC picked up the point at sixth singles after a forfeit and also took the point at third singles, as Kevin Bullens (River Forest, Ill.) won his match 6-7, 6-4, 10-5. Despite these two points, the Cougars fell 5-2.

A few weeks later, the Cougars opened March with a 9-0 loss to Prairie State College on the 21^st. The Cougars opened NACC play against Edgewood College on March 29. It was a close match that ended in heartbreak, as CUC fell 4-3. Collin Dickey (Frisco, Texas) and Reynaldo Leal (Weslaco, Texas) won at No. 1 doubles, 6-1, but the Cougars couldn't pick up the doubles point, falling at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. In singles play, Dickey won at No. 1 singles in two 6-2 sets. Leal won at No. 5 singles 7-6 (7-3) and 7-6 (7-2). At No. 6 singles, Loveshe won 6-1, 6-0. The Cougars then fell 7-0 to St. Norbert College and Milwaukee School of Engineering, on March 30 and Apr. 5, respectively.

The Cougars picked up their first win of the season in an exhibition match against College of DuPage (COD). CUC won all three doubles matches. The duo of Dickey and Leal won 8-5 at first doubles. At second doubles, Smith and Stringer won 8-3. The third doubles point was won by Bullens and Kyle Pelzek (Hales Corner, Wis.) by a score of 8-4. In singles, Loveshe blanked his opponent in two 6-0 sets, Bullens won at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 6-2, and Smith defeated his opponent at fourth singles in two 6-1 sets.

In a non-conference match against Lakeland University, CUC won 7-0, on April 11. The Muskies forfeited at No. 3 doubles, meaning the Cougars only needed one more doubles win to take the point. However, CUC took both victories. Dickey and Leal won 6-2 at first doubles and Bullens and Pelzek won 6-1 at No. 2 doubles. The Muskies also forfeited at No. 5 and No. 6 singles. At first singles, Stringer won 6-0, 6-2. Smith won a hard-fought battle at No. 2 singles, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6. Blanking his opponent at third singles was Bullens in two 6-0 sets. Loveshe scored the final point at fourth singles, 6-3, 6-1.

The Cougars returned to NACC play on Apr. 12 against Concordia University Wisconsin, when the team lost 7-0. The next day, CUC played Wisconsin Lutheran College and fell 4-3, despite winning Smith, Bullens, and Loveshe winning their singles matches. The Cougars finished out the season with a 7-0 loss to Illinois Institute of Technology.

CUC finished the season with an overall record of 1-12 and a conference record of 0-6.

Impactful Returners
With no student-athletes slated to graduate this year, the Cougars will have a strong foundation to work with next year.

Both core members of the Cougars' lineup, Loveshe and Bullens will head into their senior season next year as having recorded the most singles wins this season with four and three each, respectively. Smith will come back for his sophomore season also having picked up three wins this season. Stringer and Joshua Gustafson (Merrill, Wis.) were the other two Cougars who picked up multiple singles wins throughout the season, with two each.

As for CUC's doubles teams who won at least one match, all of them will have a chance to be paired up again next year. The duos of Dickey & Leal and Bullens & Pelzek led the Cougars with two doubles wins each, while Gustafson & Smith won one match this past season.
 
Statistical Leaders
Singles: Diego Loveshe (4)
Doubles: Collin Dickey/Reynaldo Leal, Kevin Bullens/Kyle Pelzek (2)
 
What's Next
All updates regarding CUC men's tennis, including rosters, schedules, and more can be found at cucougars.com. More content can be found on their social media, Twitter @ cuchicagotennis and Instagram @ cuchicagotennis.