Streak-Breaking Doubles Win Nets First MIAC Victory

MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/25/12)—Concordia used their first conference doubles win to win their first conference match as the Cobbers beat St. Mary's 5-4 on Sunday. The match left CC even on the weekend after Concordia lost 8-1 to Macalester on Saturday.
 
The Cobbers fought hard the entire match against the Cardinals on Sunday. Despite having lost two straight since returning from Florida, Concordia refused to break after trailing 2-1 after the doubles play and came away with four singles wins to earn their first league victory of the year. In the end it turned out to be the spectacular doubles win by Chad Smith and Kevin Schwandt that proved to be the match winner. Smith and Schwandt prevailed 8-2 at No.2 doubles. "We are really an inside doubles team that shines on Sundays in March, " commented Smith about his doubles win with Schwandt.

The win by Smith and Schwandt broke a streak of 14 straight doubles defeats by the Cobbers' doubles teams.  

The bulk of Concordia's singles wins were won by the No.3,4 and 5 singles players. Bryn Homuth outlasted his opponent in a super-set tie-breaker while Will Granrud and Schwandt both won in straight sets and No.5 and No.6 singles.

Homuth summed up his win by stating, "I had one of the best first sets of my life. It was pretty chill."

Schwandt gave credit to his doubles partner by saying, "Chad (Smith) is a tremendous team leader. He helped me during the doubles match and then was an inspiration to me in singles play. He is one of the nicest guys I have ever met."

Granrud's 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5) singles win was the second of the weekend. He earned the only victory in the Cobbers' loss to the Scots on Saturday. He now has a team-leading five singles wins on the year and is 5-1 in his last six singles matches. "What really turned the season around for me was getting in the extra work after practice with Chad (teammate Chad Smith)," replied Granrud. "He was very unselfish and stuck around after practice to work on my game at the start of the season. He has done a lot for this team."

Concordia (4-7/1-4 MIAC) will have another back-to-back conference weekend when they play at Bethel on Friday, Mar. 30 and then travel to Carleton to take on the undefeated Knights on Saturday, Mar. 31. 

Saint Mary's University vs Concordia-Moorhead
Mar 25, 2012 at Moorhead, Minn.

Concordia-Moorhead 5, Saint Mary's University 4

 Singles competition
1. Michael Lunka (SMU) def. Devin Larson (CC) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
2. Brian Olson (CC) def. Bobby Steingraeber (SMU) 6-0, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Sam Puff (SMU) def. Chad Smith (CC) 5-7, 6-2, 10-4
4. Bryn Homuth (CC) def. Andrew Rangitsch (SMU) 6-2, 1-6, 10-6
5. Will Granrud (CC) def. Gavin Smith (SMU) 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-5)
6. Kevin Schwandt (CC) def. Justin Loeffler (SMU) 6-1, 6-3

 Doubles competition
1. Michael Lunka/Bobby Steingraeber (SMU) def. Devin Larson/Brian Olson (CC) 8-4
2. Chad Smith/Kevin Schwandt (CC) def. Sam Puff/Andrew Rangitsch (SMU) 8-2
3. Gavin Smith/Justin Loeffler (SMU) def. Bryn Homuth/Will Granrud (CC) 8-6

Match Notes:
Saint Mary's University 8-7/1-3 MIAC
Concordia-Moorhead 4-7/1-4 MIAC
T-3:35  A-29