ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After an impressive start to a shortened 2019-20 season, the College of Saint Benedict tennis team has a pair of seniors back to take over as captains to lead the team in 2020-21.
 
Kayla McIver and Mackenzie Schurhamer both enter their fourth seasons with the CSB tennis program in 2020-21, and both have had solid careers for the Bennies. McIver was named the team MVP as a first year, and went 8-4 in 12 singles matches before the 2020 season was cut short. Schurhamer was abroad in the fall semester, but went 3-0 in doubles play when she returned in the spring, including a win at No. 3 doubles to help the team upset St. Thomas.
 
What is your major?
KI: I am a psychology major and sociology minor.
MS: I am an Art Education major with a Hispanic Studies minor.
 
What is your dream job?
KI: My dream job is to continue my career as a tennis coach while also working in a health clinic as a counselor. 
MS: Being a high school art teacher or professor by day and by night I have my own ceramics studio where I get to work on my own art! This would all be ideally somewhere tropical where I could use my Spanish!
 
What's your go-to pre-match meal?
KI: My go-to pre-match meal is any sort of pasta and a Gatorade. 
MS: Some pre-workout (always fruit punch flavor) and either some banana bread or a protein bar!
 
Do you have a favorite pre-match pump-up song?
KI: No:(
MS: Any 2000's oldies is what I like to listen to before a match!
 
The best ice cream flavor ever is …
KI: Chocolate chip cookie dough.
MS: Hands down cake batter mixed with cookie dough and Oreos!!!
 
Did you pick up any fun new hobbies in quarantine?
KI: No, my family built a house so there wasn't much free time. Hehe
MS: I learned how to skateboard! I'm still not very good at it though!
 
When did you start playing tennis, and what made you fall in love with it?
KI: I started playing tennis when I was four. My babysitter was really good at tennis and I wanted to do everything she did. She started taking me to the courts for fun, but then I truly fell in love with it so we asked her to be my coach and she's been a big part of my career ever since. 
MS: I started playing tennis when I was 10 years old! I fell in love when I made varsity in eighth grade and I finally got to feel what it was like to be a part of a team and it made playing tennis way more fun!
 
What's your favorite part about being a member of the CSB tennis team?
KI: My favorite part about being on the team is being able to look back at where we started just to see how far we have come. We have set high goals for ourselves over the years, and Michael and the women make all the hard work feel so rewarding.
MS: My favorite part is my team! Being able to play with them makes being a part of the CSB team worth it, plus we all have a pretty fun time at matches and practices since they don't mind my extremely loud voice yelling "LET'S GO BENNIES!"