ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After several scrimmages this fall, the College of Saint Benedict tennis team kicks off the official start to its 2019 season this Saturday, Feb. 2, when it travels to Winona for a nonconference match with Division II Winona State.
 
CSB takes on the Warriors at 3 p.m. Saint Benedict was also scheduled for a neutral-site, nonconference match with Upper Iowa, but will win by forfeit as the Peacocks roster is currently depleted due to injuries.
 
Saint Benedict has a young roster with five first years, three sophomores and four juniors, but the team's first years got some collegiate experience this fall during a scrimmage with Hamline and a multi-team scrimmage at UW-Eau Claire. All four of the team's juniors were abroad in the fall, so Karsen Aune, Regan Dolezal, Lily Fredericks, Abby Kaluza and Adrianna Warden all got valuable playing time to help with the transition from high school to college.
 
The return of the juniors – including Tessa Rahrick, who was named the team MVP as a first year – means there will be plenty of competition for a spot on the court during matches. Also in the mix are sophomores Kayla McIver, last year's MVP, and Mackenzie Schurhamer, who won two MIAC Athlete of the Week awards as a first year last season.
 
After traveling to Winona Saturday, CSB is at home at Sta-Fit in Sartell for the first time Saturday, Feb. 9, when it hosts Northwestern at 4:30 p.m. The team starts MIAC play Friday, March 1, at home against St. Thomas.