Identical Storylines In MIAC Doubleheader Weekend
ROGERS, Minn. (3/26/23)---It was an identical 2-match storyline for the Cobbers in their conference matches against St. John' and Hamline over the weekend.
Concordia lost by identical 6-3 scores to the Johnnies and Pipers, and got their wins from the standout freshmen duo of Logan Sandberg and Kai Pierce.
Both Sandberg and Pierce won both their singles matches, and combined to win both bouts at No.1 doubles.
The two losses drop Concordia's overall record to 2-8 on the season. CC is now 0-5 in conference play.
While this year's results have gone in favor of Concordia, the future is bright for the Cobbers with Sandberg and Pierce at the top of the lineup. The two first-year players are a combined 17-3 in overall singles competition and 9-1 against MIAC opponents.
Concordia opened the weekend at home against the Johnnies, where Sandberg and Pierce started play by posting a thrilling 8-7 (7) tie-breaker win over the St. John's No.1 doubles team who entered the day with a 4-1 record.
Cobber 2-sport athlete Nicholas Ness made his 2023 tennis debut against the Johnnies. He teamed with Kipton Jenson at No.2 doubles and lost an 8-3 decision.
Sandberg and Pierce also came away with close decisions in singles play. Sandberg won in straight sets, but was pushed to a tie-breaker in the first set. He was able to pull out the opening set with a 7-5 win in the tie-breaker. He then rolled in the second set to win 7-6 (5), 6-2 at No.1 singles.
Pierce played one of the matches of the year at No.2 singles. He won the opener 6-3, but then fell in the tie-breaker 7-6 (4) in the second set to push the match into the super-breaker. The super-breaker went back-and-forth with swings in momentum, before Pierce closed out the 11-9 win.
On Sunday against Hamline at the Rogers Tennis Center, the doubles storyline would stay the same for Sandberg and Pierce. They had to go to the tie-breaker to work out an 8-7 (3) victory.
The singles competition would offer no such drama as both players won in straight sets. Sandberg went 6-2, 6-1 at No.1 singles, and Pierce backed that up with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No.2 singles.
Sandberg is now 9-1 in singles play on the year. He is perfect in conference play with a 5-0 mark. Pierce is 8-2 in all matches and 4-1 vs. league foes.
Both players lead the MIAC in singles wins at their spot in the order. The two are 5-5 in doubles play. The five wins is tied for third in the conference among doubles teams.
UP NEXT: The Cobbers will play a rare same-day conference doubleheader on Sunday, Apr. 2, CC will face Carleton at 9 a.m. and then host St. Scholastica at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at Courts Plus in Fargo.
Hamline 6, Concordia-Moorhead 3
Mar 26, 2023 at Rogers, Minn. (Rogers Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Logan Sandberg (CC) def. Sam Thompson (HU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Kai Pierce (CC) def. Isaac Hultberg (HU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Tyler Rousslang (HU) def. Kipton Jenson (CC) 6-3, 6-1
4. Surprise Taylor (HU) def. Atticus Baker (CC) 6-2, 6-3
5. Sean Le (HU) def. Matthew Nemer (CC) 6-1, 6-1
6. Zach Irrthum (HU) def. Nicholas Ness (CC) 6-0, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Logan Sandberg/Kai Pierce (CC) def. Isaac Hultberg/Tyler Rousslang (HU) 8-7 (7-3)
2. Sam Thompson/Sean Le (HU) def. Kipton Jenson/Nicholas Ness (CC) 8-3
3. Surprise Taylor/Zach Irrthum (HU) def. Atticus Baker/Matthew Nemer (CC) 8-2