Singles Play Stalls Cobbers

FARGO, N.D. (3/16/19)---Concordia was unable to finish what they started as they couldn't close out St. John's in singles play and lost a heart-breaking 5-4 decision to the Johnnies.

The Cobbers led 2-1 after doubles play and then won two of the first four singles bouts but stumbled at the finish and lost the tough 1-match decision.

Concordia has their 2-match winning streak come to an end in their first contest back in Minnesota after playing five matches in Florida. The Cobbers are now 4-8 in all matches and 0-4 in the MIAC. St. John's picks up a win in their first conference match of the year and moves to 3-5 in all matches.

Concordia took control of the match at the start. CC fell behind 1-0 but then used a pair of dramatic wins at No.1 and No.2 doubles to claim a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

Concordia's No.1 doubles team of Erik Porter and Jared Saue won three of the final four games in their match and came away with an 8-6 win. The Cobbers' No.2 tandem of Ben Swanson and Tanner Lundberg fell behind 5-2 but then came roaring back to tie the match at 7-7 and force a tie-breaker. Swanson and Lundberg then used solid return play to earn a 7-4 decision in the tie-breaker to win the doubles bout 8-7.

For Swanson and Lundberg it was their fourth straight doubles win and they now have a team-leading eight doubles victories on the year.  

Saue and Swanson continued their success as they recorded the two singles wins for the Cobbers – both coming in straight sets. Saue won 6-2, 7-5 at No.2 singles and Swanson followed with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win at No.3 singles.

Swanson has now won six of his past seven singles bouts since the team left for their Florida trip on Mar. 1. Swanson leads the team in singles wins this year with an 8-4 record. The eight wins are six more than he had in all of last year.

Saue has also been on a singles tear as of late. He won his third straight singles match and is 4-2 since the team touched down in Florida. Saue is now 7-5 on the season. He now has 21 singles wins in his college career.

UP NEXT: Concordia will have a week to train and get ready for their next match. The Cobbers will travel to Winona to take on St. Mary's on Sunday, Mar. 24. The Cardinals are 4-7 in all matches and 0-5 in league play this season.     

Saint John's University 5, Concordia-M'head 4
Mar 16, 2019 at Fargo, N.D. (Courts Plus)

Singles competition
1. Thomas Gillach (SJU) def. Erik Porter (CC) 7-5, 6-2
2. Jared Saue (CC) def. Ryan Meger (SJU) 6-2, 7-5
3. Ben Swanson (CC) def. Jonah Punnoose (SJU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
4. Hunter Krebsbach (SJU) def. Tanner Lundberg (CC) 6-4, 7-5
5. Jarod Swoboda (SJU) def. Carter Steffes (CC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Jess Hansen (SJU) def. Jake Peters (CC) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Erik Porter/Jared Saue (CC) def. Thomas Gillach/Jonah Punnoose (SJU) 8-6
2. Ben Swanson/Tanner Lundberg (CC) def. Ryan Meger/Jess Hansen (SJU) 8-7 (7-4)
3. Hunter Krebsbach/Parker Dutko (SJU) def. Carter Steffes/Christian Larson (CC) 8-1