ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict tennis team features a young roster heading into the 2019-20 season – but that's nothing new for head coach
Michael Engdahl or the program.
Engdahl – who enters his fourth year with the CSB tennis program in 2019 – has never had more than four upperclassmen on his roster, and this year is no exception.
Tessa Rahrick is back as the team's only senior, and there are also three juniors to help welcome in five new athletes and continue to push the program in the right direction.
A young roster doesn't mean lack of experience for Saint Benedict. For each of the last three seasons, the team's MVP at the end of the season has been a first year, and all three of those players are back again this season. Sophomore
Lily Fredericks earned MVP honors in 2018-19 after leading the team in singles wins and starting her collegiate career 10-0. The year before it was
Kayla McIver – now a junior for Saint Benedict – and Rahrick earned MVP honors as a first year in 2016-17.
Also back for CSB this season are junior
Mackenzie Schurhamer and sophomore
Karsen Aune, who both have at least one MIAC Athlete of the Week honor under their belts.
After a hot start to the 2018-19 season, CSB looks to balance out the early wins with some MIAC wins this season, and make a push to earn a spot in the six-team conference tournament. Saint Benedict went 8-0 to start the year last season before finishing the year 9-8 overall and 2-8 in the MIAC. The team picked up conference wins against Concordia and Hamline, and came up just short against St. Olaf and Macalester.
CSB kicks off the season Saturday, Sept. 7 with a match against Morningside College (Iowa) and a scrimmage against Southwest Minnesota State. The team heads to Fargo, N.D., Sunday for a three-way scrimmage against MSU-Moorhead, University of Mary and Concordia, and then heads to Eau Claire, Wis., Sept. 14 for matches against UW-River Falls and UW-Eau Claire.
The bulk of the team's 2019-20 schedule – including all MIAC matches – will be in Spring 2020.
