Top 3 Turn Up Conference Heat

FARGO, N.D. (3/20/16)—Concordia picked up the win in the most important match of the weekend as they edged St. Mary's 5-4 in the second half of a weekend non-conference/conference doubleheader.

The Cobbers dropped a 6-1 decision against Division I University of North Dakota on Saturday but then rallied on Sunday to beat the Cardinals for their second MIAC win of the season.

Concordia is now 2-8 in all matches this year and 2-5 in conference play. The victory on Sunday moves the Cobbers into seventh place in the MIAC standings.

The win is the third of the season for the Fighting Hawks who play in the Big Sky Conference. St. Mary's falls to 7-9 overall and 0-5 in the MIAC.  

The top 3 players for Concordia proved to be the catalysts for the win on Sunday against St. Mary's. Isaac Toivonen, David Schneck and Zach Zitur all won their singles matches and the three helped the Cobbers' top 2 doubles teams put up a 2-1 lead after doubles play.

Doubles play has proved to be a key for Concordia all season long. The Cobbers have won five doubles bouts all season long and four of those came in the two league wins vs. Hamline and St. Mary's.

Toivonen and Schneck paired to post a 9-7 win at No.1 singles. The duo was able to come up with clutch points in the final games to earn the win in extra games. Zitur was teamed with Matthew Engum at No.2 doubles and the two also earned a two-game victory. They fought down the stretch and scratched out an 8-6 victory.

Toivonen was on point in singles play all weekend long. He won the team's only point on Saturday vs. UND with a 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 victory at No.1 singles. He backed that win up by recording a 6-3, 4-6, 10-6 win on Sunday. Like doubles play, it was Toivonen's ability to win the key points that drove him to the win.

Toivonen now leads the Cobbers with five singles wins and is 5-5 on the season. He had lost four straight heading into the weekend.

Schneck also grabbed a super-set victory. Playing at the No.2 doubles spot, he dropped the opening set 6-4 but then roared back to win the second set 6-3 and then claimed a 10-7 win in the super-set tiebreaker. The win snapped a seven-match losing skid for Schneck who now has two wins on the year. Both of his singles victories have been in conference play.

Zitur was the most dominant Cobber singles player of the day. He cruised to a 6-1 win in the opening set at No.3 singles and then closed out the match with a 6-3 win. The victory was Zitur's fourth of the year. He has a team-best four wins in MIAC competition.          

WHAT'S NEXT
Concordia will have a break for the Easter holiday and then hit the road for a conference match against regionally-ranked Carleton. The Cobbers and Knights will battled on Saturday, Apr. 2 at 3:30 p.m. at the Northfield Tennis Center.

North Dakota 6, Concordia-Moorhead 1
Mar 19, 2016 at Grand Forks, N.D. (Choice Health and Fitness)

Singles competition
1. Isaac Toivonen (CC) def. BERGSTROM, David (UND) 7-6, 1-6, 6-3
2. MISIALEK, Ty (UND) def. Zach Zitur (CC) 6-4, 6-1
3. OBERLE, Connor (UND) def. Jesse Schneeberger (CC) 7-5, 6-1
4. LAU, Travis (UND) def. Austin Storm (CC) 6-0, 6-0
5. LEE, Joe (UND) def. Scott Schwandt (CC) 6-0, 6-0
6. VARMA, Eshan (UND) def. Andrew Storm (CC) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. BERGSTROM, David/LAU, Travis (UND) def. Isaac Toivonen/Zach Zitur (CC) 6-4
2. OBERLE, Connor/HOKANSON, Matt (UND) def. Jesse Schneeberger/Scott Schwandt (CC) 6-0
3. LEE, Joe/MISIALEK, Ty (UND) def. Austin Storm/Andrew Storm (CC) 6-0

Concordia-Moorhead 5, Saint Mary's University 4
Mar 20, 2016 at Fargo, N.D. (Courts Plus)

Singles competition
1. Isaac Toivonen (CC) def. Collin Kaczorowski (SMU) 6-3, 4-6, 10-6
2. David Schneck (CC) def. Brenden Amiotte (SMU) 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
3. Zach Zitur (CC) def. Brett Giesen (SMU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Warren Lawrenz (SMU) def. Matthew Engum (CC) 3-6, 7-5, 12-10
5. Blake Olmscheid (SMU) def. Austin Storm (CC) 6-3, 6-0
6. Alex Holm (SMU) def. Scott Schwandt (CC) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Isaac Toivonen/David Schneck (CC) def. Collin Kaczorowski/Blake Olmscheid (SMU) 9-7
2. Zach Zitur/Matthew Engum (CC) def. Warren Lawrenz/Alex Holm (SMU) 8-6
3. Brett Giesen/Brenden Amiotte (SMU) def. Austin Storm/Andrew Storm (CC) 8-1

Match Notes
Saint Mary's University 0-5 MIAC, 7-9
Concordia-Moorhead 2-5 MIAC, 2-7
T-2:25 A-45