Futchko Aims For Consistency
MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/06/14)—Concordia will have a different coach for the third time in the last three seasons as they begin their 2014 campaign. First-year head coach Steve Futchko is hoping to bring a new-found sense of consistency to a program that made a trip to the conference postseason as recently as 2009.
Futchko will be starting with small steps as the new season approaches. Concordia was picked to finish 11th in the annual MIAC preseason coaches' poll. The Cobbers failed to win a match last year and finished the year with an 0-16 overall mark and an 0-10 record against league competition.
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Despite the struggles in 2013, Futchko is excited for upcoming campaign after seeing the team progress during the fall and in the early stages of indoor practice. One of the reasons for Futchko's optimism is the fact that Concordia returns four of their starting singles players from last year including 89-percent of their singles wins and half of their doubles victories.
The top returners for the Cobbers are Kaitlyn Davies, Morgan Sawatzke, Brittany Glatt and Taylor Peterson. Davies led the team in singles wins from her No.5 singles position. Sawatzke was second on the squad in singles at No.6 singles while Glatt played at No.4 singles and Peterson spent the entire season as the team's No.3 player.
The four returning players also give the Cobbers doubles experience. The duo of Davies and Sawatzke led the team in doubles victories at No.3 doubles while Glatt and Peterson were the No.2 doubles team for all of 2013.
Concordia will start the road to consistency when they host Hamline on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2:30 p.m. at Courts Plus in Fargo. The Cobbers will once again return to the Tampa, Fla. Area for their annual spring break trip. CC will play five matches in the warmer climate beginning on Monday, Feb. 24.