Knocking On The Door For The First MIAC Win
Concordia continues to knock on the door of conference singles and doubles wins but can't get an answer at the finish.
WINONA, Minn. (3/16/14)—If matches were determined by signs of improvement, Concordia would be one of the top teams in the region. Unfortunately the Cobbers continue to stumble at the finish of matches and lost twice on the road over the weekend.
"We are so close," commented head coach Steve Futchko. "The guys are playing hard and have come a long way. "We just need to find a way to finish."
Concordia dropped a 9-0 decision against regionally-ranked St. Thomas on Saturday and then battled to an 8-1 loss at St. Mary's on Sunday. The Cobbers are now 1-10 overall and 0-5 in conference play.
The match against the Cardinals was the closest conference battle of the year for Concordia. Despite the seven-game difference on the scoreboard, Concordia lost a pair of singles matches in the super-set tie-breaker and two doubles matches by a combined total of three games.
The lone win for Concordia on the weekend came from the racquet of sophomore Even Jystad. Jystad won in the tie-breaker at No.4 singles as he pulled off a 6-2, 3-6, 13-11 thriller. He now has a team-leading three wins in singles play.
Jystad also played a part in the closest double match of the day. He teamed with fellow sophomore Austin Storm at No.3 doubles and lost 8-6. The other tight doubles bout came at the No.2 spot where Jesse Schneeberger and Zach Zitur lost 8-5.
Zitur and Sam Smith both lost in the super-set tie-breaker in singles play. Zitur won the first set at No.1 singles 6-4 but then lost 6-0 in the second set and 11-9 in extra points in the tie-breaker. Smith also won the first set at No.3 singles but then fell 6-4 in the second set and 10-5 in the tie-breaker.
Concordia will now have a three-match home stand. The Cobbers will start their home string when they host non-conference Northwestern (Minn.) on Saturday, Mar. 22 at 3 p.m.
St. Thomas 9, Concordia-Moorhead 0
Mar 15, 2014 at
Singles competition
1. Burke Anderson (UST) def. Zach Zitur (CC) 6-2, 6-3
2. Scott Wall (UST) def. Jesse Schneeberger (CC) 6-2, 6-2
3. Matt Kavanagh (UST) def. Sam Smith (CC) 6-2, 6-4
4. Grant Johnson (UST) def. Even Jystad (CC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Tom Runde (UST) def. Zach Biggar (CC) 6-2, 6-2
6. Brendan Hollidge (UST) def. Austin Storm (CC) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Brady Radermacher/Scott Wall (UST) def. Zach Biggar/Sam Smith (CC) 8-2
2. Burke Anderson/Matt Kavanagh (UST) def. Zach Zitur/Jesse Schneeberger (CC) 8-3
3. Steven Skanse/Grant Johnson (UST) def. Austin Storm/Matthew Jacobson (CC) 8-2
Match Notes
Concordia-Moorhead 1-9, 0-4
St. Thomas 4-2, 3-1
Saint Mary's University 8, Concordia-Moorhead 1
Mar 16, 2014 at Winona, Minn. (Winona Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Tim Wolford (SMU) def. Zach Zitur (CC) 4-6, 6-0, 11-9
2. Collin Kaczorowski (SMU) def. Jesse Schneeberger (CC) 6-1, 6-1
3. Gavin Smith (SMU) def. Sam Smith (CC) 6-2, 4-6, 10-5
4. Even Jystad (CC) def. Andrew Johnson (SMU) 6-2, 3-6, 13-11
5. Warren Lawrenz (SMU) def. Zach Biggar (CC) 6-2, 6-3
6. Blake Olmscheid (SMU) def. Matthew Jacobson (CC) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Tim Wolford/Collin Kaczorowski (SMU) def. Zach Biggar/Sam Smith (CC) 8-0
2. Gavin Smith/Andrew Johnson (SMU) def. Jesse Schneeberger/Zach Zitur (CC) 8-5
3. Blake Olmscheid/Warren Lawrenz (SMU) def. Even Jystad/Austin Storm (CC) 8-6
Match Notes
Concordia-Moorhead 0-5 MIAC, 1-10