Super Singles Play Paces Cobbers to Huge Comeback Win Over St. John's! 
MOORHEAD-- Things looked pretty bleak for the Cobbers after the completion of their doubles competition against St. John's. Concordia had lost the day before in a white-knuckler to regionally-ranked Carleton, and were now down 3-0 to the Johnnies after the first three doubles matches. To make matters worse, if Concordia did not dig themselves out of the three-match hole, they would fall all the way into fifth place in the final regular season standings in the MIAC.

Over the course of the next hour, the Cobbers proceeded to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in program history and nip St. John's 5-4 at the wire. Led by senior Jake Thomas playing in his usual #1 singles spot, Concordia won the first five singles matches and leaped over the Johnnies to gain sole possession of fourth place in the conference heading into the MIAC tournament on April 29-30. 

Concordia finishes the regular season 6-3 in the MIAC and 10-5 overall. It is the first time that a Concordia men's tennis team has cracked the 10-win barrier since the 1992 Cobbers went 12-8 overall and also 6-3 in the conference. The fourth-place finish for Concordia is the highest in program history since the 1999-2000 campaign where they also finished 6-3 and claimed the fourth spot.

The Johnnies fall 5-4 for the second consecutive day. On Saturday they dropped a heartbreaker to St. Thomas by the identical score. St. John's drops to 5-4 in the conference and 10-6 overall. 

Thomas started the Cobbers' singles onslaught by beating Steve Tacl 6-1, 6-4. For Thomas it was his fourth straight singles match victory. Thomas' doubles partner Jordy Kamerling also won for the fourth consecutive match as he washed out Trevor Beach 6-3, 6-4.

Ryan Smith claimed the third victory for Concordia with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Adam Putschoegl, and William Wischer finished off Matt Carlson 6-2, 6-1 at the #4 singles spot in the quickest singles match of the day. 

Paul Tuchscherer was able to seal the deal for the Cobbers when he bettered Ryan Hinman 6-2, 6-3. For Tuchscherer it was his team-leading 12th singles win of the season. 

Concordia will have a week to prepare for the MIAC Championship Tournament, which will be held at Gustavus on April 29-30. In a wicked twist of fate, Concordia will play St. John's in their quarterfinal match on April 29.
 

Concordia Men's Tennis vs St. John's (April 24, 2005)
April 24, 2005 St. John's at Concordia

St. John's 4 at Concordia Men's Tennis 5
Doubles competition
No. 1: Steve Tacl/Curtis Horton (SJU)  def. Jake Thomas/Jordy Kamerling (CC), 8-6 
No. 2: Jeff Butorac/Matt Carlson (SJU) def. Ryan Smith/Paul Tuchscherer (CC), 8-2
No. 3: Trevor Beach/Dan Ruehl (SJU def. William Wischer/Eric Torres (CC), 8-5

Singles competition
No. 1: Jake Thomas (CC) def. Steve Tacl (SJU), 6-1, 6-4 
No. 2: Jordy Kamerling (CC) def. Trevor Beach (SJU), 6-3, 6-4 
No. 3: Ryan Smith (CC) def. Adam Putschoegl (SJU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 4: William Wischer (CC) def. Matt Carlson (SJU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 5: Paul Tuchscherer (CC) def. Ryan Hinman (SJU), 6-2, 6-3 
No. 6: Curtis Horton (SJU) def. Eric Torres (CC), 6-2, 6-2

Match Notes
Concordia College 10-5, 6-3 MIAC
St. John's University 10-6, 5-4 MIAC