MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict tennis team spent its Friday night winning one of its biggest matches in recent memory.
 
The Bennies beat St. Thomas 6-3 Friday at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis. That win marked the first over the Tommies since March 27, 2012, for the CSB tennis program. Since that date, the team was 0-9 against UST, but the Bennies broke that streak Friday. The loss marked the first of the season for St. Thomas.
 
"This was the definition of a team victory," head coach Michael Engdahl said. "Everything we talked about doing in the pressure moments, we executed to perfection. We talked all week about facing adversity, and we met every challenge they threw at us. Everyone has so much to be proud of, but we need to regroup quick to get ready for Concordia (Saturday)."
 
The team started Friday's match with a 2-1 lead thanks to a pair of doubles wins. Kayla McIver and Anne Bowe won 8-0 at No. 2 doubles, and Maria Bedford and Mackenzie Schurhamer won 8-4 at No. 3 doubles. The Tommies (6-1, 2-1) won 8-3 at No. 1 doubles, but the Bennies held the lead heading into singles play.
 
Of the six singles matches Friday night, five went to extra sets, and Saint Benedict won four of those five en route to its big win. Bedford, a first year, was the only CSB athlete to win in straight sets, defeating her Tommie opponent 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 singles.
 
Tessa Rahrick won 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 at No. 1 singles, and Lily Fredericks picked up a 6-1, 6-7, 10-3 win at No. 2 singles. The Tommies picked up wins at No. 3 and 4 singles, but Bowe won the longest match of the night at No. 5 singles, defeating her opponent 7-6, 2-6, 14-12 to help her team hold on for the win.
 
Friday's victory pushes CSB's overall record to 6-1, and marks the team's first MIAC contest of the season. The Bennies are back at home and continue MIAC play Saturday, Feb. 22, when they host Concordia at 1 p.m. at Sta-Fit in Sartell.