Streak-Breaking Start Continues

VIRGINIA, Minn (2/15/20)--Concordia took its talents to the Iron Range on Saturday afternoon and came away with another impressive showing as they beat St. Scholastica 6-3.

The win against the Saints was another streak breaker for the Cobbers. The victory marks the first time since 2012 that Concordia has bested St. Scholastica. The six points won in the match at Scholastica is also more than the last seven years combined total.

The victory ups the Cobbers' season record to 2-1 on the season which is the best 3-match start in over a decade.

It was an action-packed day from the front page to the back, featuring close matches in both singles and doubles.

In doubles action, the No.3 team of Abby Westrum and Emily Savageau picked up an 8-7 (3) win over Hannah Lowen and Emily Carpenter of St. Scholastica. The duo is now 2-0 on the year and Westrum is 3-0 on the year at the No.3 doubles spot.

The Cobbers nearly earned a win at the No.1 doubles spot where Jenna Forknell and Raquel Egge got off to a hot start, jumping to a 6-3 lead. The Saints' team of Elizabeth Fink and Maddi Jankila used their aggressive net play to roar back and tie the pro-set at 6-6 and ultimately took the match 8-7 (5).

While the doubles play was eventful, the singles portion of the day upped that pace with plenty of drama and tight-action packed matches.

Concordia came flying out of the blocks in singles play. Sophomore Brianna Bell picked up her second singles win of the year with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over Maria Valentini at No.5 singles as doubles play was still finishing up.

Savageau continued her early-season success by adding a second singles win for the Cobbers as she notched a 6-3,6-0 victory over Anna Roberts. Savageau is now 2-0 on the year in singles.

Sophomore Carolyn Voss put up a strong fight at No.3 singles. After dropping the first set Voss pinned her opponent to the corners of the court and took the second set ­7-5. Voss got up early in the deciding super-tiebreaker but was outlasted 10-6 in the final.

Egge continued the torrid start to her freshman season. She won her third match in a row, snagging a 6-4, 7-5 win at No.1 singles, giving the Cobbers a 4-2 lead.

The most exciting match of the day came at No.4 singles. With a chance to clinch the meet sophomore Taylor Partington battled strong in the first set against Julia Ellefson but came up short 7-6 (5). Partington fell behind 3-0 in the second set and then turned into a human backboard and grabbed the next four games to take a 4-3 lead. From there she got a break at 5-5 and came back from 40-love down to win the game and second set 7-5.

Partington got up 3-0 in the deciding super-tiebreaker and never looked back. She won 10-5 and clinched the overall team match for the Cobbers.

Following the clinch, Jenna Forknell mounted a comeback at No.2 singles and added icing to the cake. She rallied from a 6-3 loss in the first set and won the second set 6-4 and then rolled to a 10-3 victory in the super-set.

UP NEXT: The Cobbers jump across the border to America's Dairyland to take on Wis.-Superior tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. The Cobbers hope to sting the Jackets with revenge after losing a tight 5-4 battle to them at home last year. The Yellowjackets are 0-3 on the season.

Concordia (MN) 6, St. Scholastica 3
2/15/2020 at Virginia, MN (Virginia Indoor Tennis Club)

Singles competition
1. Raquel Egge (CC) def. Elizabeth Fink (CSS) 6-4, 7-5
2. Jenna Forknell (CC) def. Madilyn Jankila (CSS) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-2)
3. Syd Holt (CSS) def. Carolyn Voss (CC) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-6)
4. Taylor Partington (CC) def. Julia Ellefson (CSS) 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 1-0 (10-4)
5. Brianna Bell (CC) def. Maria Valentini (CSS) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
6. Emily Savageau (CC) def. Anna Roberts (CSS) 6-3, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Elizabeth Fink/Madilyn Jankila (CSS) def. Raquel Egge/Jenna Forknell (CC) 8-7 (7-3)
2. Syd Holt/Madeline Samz (CSS) def. Carolyn Voss/Taylor Partington (CC) 8-6
3. Emily Savageau/Abby Westrum (CC) def. Hannah Loewen/Emily Carpenter (CSS) 8-7 (7-3)