Cobbers Drop Season Opener In Duluth
SUPERIOR, Wis. (1/28/18)---Concordia crossed over the Duluth Harbor Bridge on Sunday and transported from a season-opening loss at St. Scholastica in Minnesota on Saturday to the warm shores of a 7-2 win over Wis.-Superior.
"The resilience and determination the team showed in singles play was awesome," head coach Joseph Murrey said. "The young players were more relaxed today and the experienced players played with a lot of confidence. It was a great match all around."
The Cobbers earned the first victory of the season by coming away with four wins in singles play that were all decided in the super-set tiebreaker. Concordia led 2-1 after doubles play but then wore down the Yellowjackets at the end of four singles matches, and used a straight-set victory in the fifth, to earn the 7-2 victory.
The win evens the Cobbers' record at 1-1 for the opening weekend of the 2018 season.
Freshman Jenna Forknell provided one of the breakout performances for the first two matches. The former Fargo Davies player jumped into the No.1 singles spot for CC and won both her singles matches on the weekend. She also went 1-1 in doubles play at the No.1 doubles spot with partner, and fellow freshman, Maia Wendel.
Another first-year duo helped Concordia get off to the 2-1 lead after doubles play over Superior. Josie Beachy and Lexi Johnson claimed an 8-4 win at No.3 doubles which tied the match at 1-1 at the time. The lone experienced doubles team of Kendra Stoick and Lisa Neumann then finished off their opponents at No.2 doubles with an 8-3 decision and the Cobbers took the 2-1 lead heading into singles play.
Forknell then started the super-set success by winning 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 at No.1 singles. Wendel then came through with the most dramatic finish off the afternoon as she rallied from one set down and finally polished off her UWS opponent by winning in extra points at 3-6, 6-4, 14-12.
Johnson put the match with a 7-5, 3-6, 10-3 win at No.6 singles which gave Concordia a 5-1 lead and secured the first victory of the season.
Like Wendel, Neumann had to go to bonus points in her super-set win at No.4 singles. She won the first set 6-2 but then dropped the second 3-6 before rebounding with a thrilling 11-9 victory in the super-set.
Beachy completed the successful Sunday by recording the only straight set win of the six singles matches. She rolled to a 6-2, 6-1 win at No.5 singles to grab her first collegiate victory.
Saturday's match at St. Scholastica was a different story as the Cobbers showed their youth and season-opening jitters against the Saints. Concordia lost 7-2 and earned one win in doubles play and one in singles.
Forknell was in the middle of both victories for the Cobbers. She paired with Wendel to win 8-4 at No.1 doubles and then won 7-5, 6-2 to record her first collegiate singles victory.
WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will have a bit of a break before returning to play with a home-and-away weekend on Feb. 9-11. The Cobbers will play cross-town rival MSU Moorhead at Courts Plus in Fargo on Friday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. and then head to Sartell to take on St. Benedict in the first conference match of the season on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m.
St. Scholastica 7, Concordia-M'head 2
Jan 27, 2018 at Duluth, Minn. (Arrowhead Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Jenna Forknell (CC) def. Daniela Rojas (CSS) 7-5, 6-2
2. Katelyn Rice (CSS) def. Kendra Stoick (CC) 6-3, 6-1
3. Elizabeth Fink (CSS) def. Maia Wendel (CC), by default
4. Sarah Coryell (CSS) def. Lisa Neumann (CC) 6-0, 6-1
5. Taylor Hays (CSS) def. Josie Beachy (CC) 6-4, 6-2
6. Alexia Brascugli (CSS) def. Lexi Johnson (CC) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Jenna Forknell/Maia Wendel (CC) def. Elise Hauer/Daniela Rojas (CSS) 8-4
2. Katelyn Rice/Elizabeth Fink (CSS) def. Kendra Stoick/Lisa Neumann (CC) 8-3
3. Emma Bartels/Syd Holt (CSS) def. Josie Beachy/Lexi Johnson (CC) 8-4