ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict tennis team picked up a pair of wins over the weekend, and two members of the Blazer squad played a large role in those wins.
Junior Victoria Beach and first year Taylor Kraemer each had a hand in four wins for CSB over the weekend. They both went 2-0 in singles play, and they both their doubles wins, including a close win as a duo against Northwestern Saturday afternoon.
For their performances over the weekend, Beach and Kraemer have been named the Blazer Athletes of the Week.
Beach and Kraemer started the weekend with perhaps their biggest win in the two matches. The duo teamed up at No. 3 doubles and won a 9-7, hard-fought victory against Northwestern. That win helped CSB finish 2-1 in doubles against the Eagles, and was key in the Blazers’ 5-4 victory. Beach and Kraemer were down early in the match, but pulled ahead and then held off a late comeback by the Eagles’ duo of Birdie Bardwell and Tina Matetich. Saturday’s doubles match marked the first time Beach and Kraemer had played together this season.
Both Beach and Kraemer were equally as impressive in singles against Northwestern, as both athletes won tiebreakers to help Saint Benedict hold on for the win. Beach defeated Bardwell 7-6, 7-4, 6-2 at No. 3 singles and Kraemer beat Rachel Bostrom 6-2, 7-6, 7-4 at No. 4 singles.
The two weren’t teamed up for doubles Sunday against Concordia, but they were equally as impressive. Beach, a Grand Rapids, Mich., native, teamed up with Laura Finn at No. 2 doubles for an 8-3 win. Kraemer, an Osakis, Minn., native, and Cassy Finn won their No. 3 doubles match 8-0.
Beach competed at No. 3 singles and beat Kendra Stoick 6-3, 6-1, and Kraemer beat Taylor Peterson 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 singles to help the Blazers in their 8-1 win against the Cobbers.
Saint Benedict is now 4-8 overall and 1-2 in the MIAC. The Blazers are back in action Sunday, March 29, when they host Macalester at 10 a.m. at Fitness Evolution in Sartell, Minn.
