Conference Streak Ends In Convincing Fashion

FARGO, N.D. (3/17/24)---The 1,828-day wait is finally over.

It had been almost exactly five years to-the-day since the Cobbers' last conference win and now the wait is over. Not only did Concordia end their 34-match winless streak, they did it in style.

The Cobbers rolled over St. Mary's 8-1 on Sunday in the second match of their home-and-away MIAC doubleheader weekend. CC started the weekend by falling 9-0 at nationally-ranked Gustavus in St. Peter.

The last win came on Mar. 16 when Concordia also beat St. Mary's.

The Cobbers' lineup in 2024 against the Cardinals featured two sophomores and four freshmen as they cruised to the 8-1 victory. Concordia almost made it a clean sweep but the lone loss came in extra points in the super-set tie-breaker.

Sophomore Kai Pierce and freshman Isaac Maddock started the streak-breaking Sunday by posting an 8-2 win at No.1 doubles. The pair is starting to find their rhythm as they are now 3-1 in their last four doubles bouts.  

Sophomore Logan Sandberg and freshman Kai Kringlie wore down their opponents at No.2 doubles and earned an 8-5 win, while first-year players Hunter Rice and Daniel Skrade claimed an 8-4 victory at No.3 doubles. For Rice and Hunter, it was their team-leading fifth doubles win of the year.

Pierce, Maddock and Kringlie all cruised to straight-set wins. Pierce won 6-1, 6-1 at No.2 singles, Maddock was a 6-1, 6-0 winner at No.3 singles and Kringlie pulled off the 6-4, 6-3 win at No.4 singles. For Maddock, he now has a team-high six singles wins on the year. Pierce and Kringlie are right behind Maddock with five singles' wins.

Sandberg and Skrade needed to go to the tie-breaker to earn their team point. Sandberg played the tightest match of the day as he won 13-11 in extra games. He won the first set 6-3 and dropped the second set by an identical 6-3 score. Sandberg also has five singles wins for the season.

Skrade's super-set win didn't go to as many points in the super-set as Sandberg's victory but it was more dramatic with each of the first two sets being determined at the end. Skrade lost 7-6 (10-8) in the first set and evened the match with a 7-5 win in the second set before outlasting his opponent with a 10-6 victory in the tie-breaker.

UP NEXT: Concordia will have a week to enjoy the conference win before facing Hamline on Sunday, Mar. 24 at 2 p.m. at Courts Plus in Fargo.