Tough Schedule Yields Improvement
FARGO, N.D. (2/03/19)--- The MIAC schedule makers didn't do Concordia any favors by having the Cobbers open the 2019 conference season by hosting the team that has won 30 consecutive regular season league titles and another who is ranked in the Top 40 of the nation and in the Top 10 of the region.
Despite the long odds for the new-look Cobbers, they were able to show improvement over last year and post some quality individual performances.
Concordia started the 2019 campaign by falling 8-1 to No.8-ranked Gustavus and then dropped a hard-fought 7-2 decision to Carleton who was picked to finish second in the MIAC preseason poll.
Both results for the Cobbers are improvements over the final scores from the 2018 season.
The best singles match of the entire opening weekend came on Friday in the No.2 singles bout where junior Jared Saue earned a victory in the super-set tie-breaker against Xavier Sanga who was unbeaten in conference play last season. Saue started his singles bout by claiming a 6-4 decision but then Sanga returned the favor with a 6-4 win in the second set. The two would then wage a back-and-forth battle in the tie-breaker before Saue was able to finish the final two points and claim a 10-8 victory.
Saue teamed with Erik Porter at No.1 singles and the duo went toe-to-toe with the Gusties' No.1 tandem. Saue and Porter lost 8-6 in the match.
The Concordia doubles teams took center stage on Sunday as they took two of the three matches from regionally-ranked Carleton.
Saue and Porter carried their solid play over from Saturday and were able to flip the tables and come away with an 8-6 win at No.1 doubles.
A brand new double crew earned their first win of the season at No. 2 doubles. Sophomore Ben Swanson teamed with freshman Tanner Lundberg and the two powered their way to an 8-5 win to give the Cobbers a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.
The closest singles match of the day came in the battle at No.1 where Porter lost in the super-set tie-breaker. Porter won the first set 6-4 but then dropped a 6-2 decision in the second before falling 10-5 in the third.
UP NEXT: Concordia will have a 2-week break before returning to action and continuing with their 5-match home stand. The Cobbers will step outside conference play when they host Wis.-Superior on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. at Courts Plus in Fargo.
Carleton College 7, Concordia-M'head 2
Feb 03, 2019 at Fargo, N.D. (Courts Plus)
Singles competition
1. William Walsh (CAR) def. Erik Porter (CC) 4-6, 6-2, 10-5
2. Sahil Chhugani (CAR) def. Jared Saue (CC) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
3. Xander Roti (CAR) def. Ben Swanson (CC) 6-3, 6-1
4. Lewis White (CAR) def. Tanner Lundberg (CC) 6-2, 6-2
5. Jonas Lindholm-Uzzi (CAR) def. Carter Steffes (CC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Johnny Reichman (CAR) def. Christian Larson (CC) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Erik Porter/Jared Saue (CC) def. William Walsh/Sahil Chhugani (CAR) 8-6
2. Ben Swanson/Tanner Lundberg (CC) def. Jonas Lindholm-Uzzi/Johnny Reichman (CAR) 8-5
3. Lewis White/Christof Zweifel (CAR) def. Carter Steffes/Christian Larson (CC) 8-1