Success Takes Small Step In Heartbreaker vs. Northwestern
Sometimes the path to success comes in small steps rather than large strides. That was the case in Concordia’s non-conference match with Northwestern. The Cobbers lost 7-2 to the Eagles in 2023, but on Saturday the two teams battled toe-to-toe before Concordia lost a heartbreaking 5-4 decision.
FARGO, N.D. (2/10/24)---Sometimes the path to success comes in small steps rather than large strides. That was the case in Concordia's non-conference match with Northwestern. The Cobbers lost 7-2 to the Eagles in 2023, but on Saturday the two teams battled toe-to-toe before Concordia lost a heartbreaking 5-4 decision.
The 5-4 score line is even closer than it looks, as the Cobbers lost two doubles matches in the tie-breaker and a singles match that was decided by a total of three games.
For the second straight match, Concordia had first-year players step up to post huge wins. The tandem of Hunter Rice and Daniel Skrade earned the only win in doubles play for CC. They posted an 8-5 win at No.3 doubles.
The pair are now 2-0 in doubles competition this spring.
Skrade went back-to-back in his very first collegiate singles match. He claimed a 6-3, 7-5 victory at No.6 singles.
Rice was involved in the closest singles bout of the afternoon. He lost 7-5 in the first set and couldn't come up with the key point in the second set and lost in extra points in the tie-breaker 7-6 (9-7).
Isaac Maddock and Kai Kringlie recorded the other team points for the Cobbers. Both athletes won in straight sets in the middle of the CC lineup. Maddock cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win at No.3 singles, while Kringlie earned a 6-3, 6-3 roll at No.4 singles.
Both Maddock and Kringlie are now 2-0 in the spring season in singles play. Kringlie is 3-1 in his first year of college tennis.
Concordia could have been up 3-0 after doubles play but lost the bouts at No.1 and No.2 dubs in the tie-breaker. Sophomores Logan Sandberg and Kai Pierce fell 8-7 (3) in the top spot and Maddock and Kringlie fell 8-7 (2) at No.2 doubles.
UP NEXT: Concordia will open conference play in the spring next weekend when they travel to Duluth to take on St. Scholastica on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 4 p.m.
Northwestern 5, Concordia-Moorhead 4
Feb 10, 2024 at Fargo, N.D. (Courts Plus)
Singles competition
1. Stewart Morrell (UNW) def. Logan Sandberg (CC) 6-0, 6-0
2. Jacob Weddle (UNW) def. Kai Pierce (CC) 6-1, 6-4
3. Isaac Maddock (CC) def. Carson Haack (UNW) 6-2, 6-2
4. Kai Kringlie (CC) def. Griffen Jarchow (UNW) 6-3, 6-3
5. Darin Rupp (UNW) def. Hunter Rice (CC) 7-5, 7-6 (9-7)
6. Daniel Skrade (CC) def. Ben Schutz (UNW) 6-3, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Stewart Morrell/Jacob Weddle (UNW) def. Logan Sandberg/Kai Pierce (CC) 8-7 (7-3)
2. Carson Haack/Darin Rupp (UNW) def. Isaac Maddock/Kai Kringlie (CC) 8-7 (7-2)
3. Hunter Rice/Daniel Skrade (CC) def. Griffen Jarchow/Ben Schutz (UNW) 8-5