Back in Action: The Saint Benedict tennis team is back in action this Saturday (Apr. 13) at home against St. Thomas at Fitness Evolution in Sartell 3:30 p.m. After a postponement last week in their match against Hamline, the team looks to use their strong start in that match along with their three consecutive wins before playing Hamline to tough out the Tommies.
About St. Thomas: St. Thomas has been playing well in the past month with a record of 6-2 in their past eight games. These games include sweeps against Concordia-Wisconsin, Hamline and Concordia-Moorhead. The Tommies also beat St. Mary's 8-1 and both Virginia Wesleyan and St. Olaf 7-2 in this run. The Tommies two losses were a 8-1 loss to the University of Chicago and a 5-4 loss to Colby College.
Last Meeting: The last time these two teams met (Mar 27 of last season. The Blazers fought hard for a 6-3 win. In their first match playing doubles together,
Megan Seipel and
Lauren Jones grabbed an 8-3 victory in the number two position. Rolling with this momentum,
Alicia Vargas and
Sarah Rossman pulled through a close 9-7 match with the win in the number three spot. In singles,
Megan Seipel played a perfect match at five singles. She went on to pick up the third point of the match with a 6-0, 6-0 win.
Lauren Jones came up with the fourth point in a 6-4, 6-4 win at the number two spot.
Alicia Vargas took the match point for the Blazers with straight set scores of 6-3, 6-0.
Storyline: The Blazers are coming off three straight wins and a 6-0 lead in a postponed game against Hamline, which pushed them up two spots to fifth place in the MIAC. The Blazers are at home and are looking to use their winning streak and home field advantage against the 11-2 Tommies.
Who to Watch:
Ellie Black and
Beth Richmond currently lead the team in the singles division with records of 8-2 while
Aly Dahlquist follows with a record of 7-1 in single play. The doubles team of
Victoria Beach and
Ellie Black currently lead the Blazers in doubles with a record of 6-2 and
Jamie Hoffman and
Daley Rupar's team is a close second with just one more loss and a record of 6-3.
Last Time Out: In their last match, the Blazers had the match locked up with a 6-0 lead before play was suspended due to rain. The Blazers started out with a sweep through doubles with an 8-1 win from
Aly Dahlquist and
Beth Richmond at No. 3 doubles. James Hoffman and
Daley Rupar at No. 1 and
Victoria Beach and
Ellie Black at No. 2 each walked away with 8-2 wins to take the Blazers ahead 3-0 after doubles. The following three consecutive wins in single play locked up the win with a score of 6-0 with just three remaining decisions. Beach won at No. 3 singles with a 6-2, 6-4 win, as Black followed with a 6-1, 6-2 win. Rupar finished off the night with a 6-1, 6-4 win at the No. 2 spot.
Up Next: The Blazers follow up this match with a match against St. Olaf at home again next Friday (Apr 19) at the College of Saint Benedict Outdoor courts at 4 p.m.
