Warm Weather Suits Cobbers

LAKELAND, Fla. (2/24/14)—It took warm temperatures and outside tennis for Concordia to earn its first win of the season. The Cobbers beat Hanover (Ind.) 8-1 in the opening match of their annual Florida training trip.

In addition to the first victory of the season, it's also the first collegiate win for first-year head coach Steve Futchko. Concordia is now 1-4 on the season.

The Cobbers cruised to the win by earning victories in all six singles matches. The team bout was hanging in the balance after the three doubles matches with CC holding a 2-1 lead but then Concordia went all out in singles play to come away with the 8-1 victory.

Concordia had four different players pick up their first singles wins of the season. Freshman Jesse Schneeberger broke into the win column at No.1 singles by outlasting his opponent 6-4, 2-6, 10-6. All five of the other singles wins came in straight sets.

Zach Zitur, Zach Biggar and Matthew Jacobson all earned their first singles wins of the year as well. Zitur claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No.2 singles while fellow Zach, Biggar, won 8-0 in a single super-set after the team match was decided and Jacobson recorded the rare "double bagel" 6-0, 6-0 victory at No.6 singles.

Biggar teamed with Sam Smith to get one of the two doubles wins for the Cobbers. The pair won 8-3 at No.2 doubles and is now 1-1 on the season. Austin Storm and Tyler Halvorson made the most of their first doubles match together. The underclassmen duo earned an 8-2 victory at No.3 doubles.

Concordia will hope to continue their warm weather success story when they play Davenport (Mich.) on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 9 a.m.  


Concordia-Moorhead 8, Hanover College 1
Feb 24, 2014 at Lakeland, Fla.

Singles competition
1. Jesse Schneeberger (CC) def. Brian Clark (HC) 6-4, 2-6, 10-6
2. Zach Zitur (CC) def. Reid Clark (HC) 6-4, 6-2
3. Sam Smith (CC) def. Jordan Myers (HC) 7-5, 6-0
4. Even Jystad (CC) def. Josh Ruse (HC) 6-3, 6-1
5. Zach Biggar (CC) def. Derek Kippenbrock (HC) 8-0
6. Matthew Jacobson (CC) def. Brooks McClain (HC) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Brian Clark/Reid Clark (HC) def. Jesse Schneeberger/Zach Zitur (CC) 8-4
2. Zach Biggar/Sam Smith (CC) def. Jordan Myers/Josh Ruse (HC) 8-3
3. Austin Storm/Tyler Halvorson (CC) def. Derek Kippenbrock/Brooks McClain (HC) 8-2