SARTELL, Minn. – After a successful fall season, the College of Saint Benedict tennis team kicked off the 2020 portion of its schedule with a sweep of Northwestern Saturday afternoon at Sta-Fit in Sartell.
 
"It was a great first (spring) win for us," head coach Michael Engdahl said. "We didn't have a lot of first-match jitters, and played the type of tennis we have been practicing all week. We have a ton of positives to build on as we get ready for MIAC play to start in a few weeks."
 
The Bennies (5-1) started with a sweep of doubles play. Lily Fredericks and Tessa Rahrick battled for an 8-5 win at No.1 doubles, and Mackenzie Schurhamer and Maria Bedford won by the same score at No. 3 doubles. Kayla McIver and Anne Bowe won 8-2 at No. 2 doubles.
 
Rahrick won another tough fight at No. 1 singles, holding on for a 6-4, 6-2 win. Fredericks won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 singles, and McIver won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 singles. Sophomore Grace Lee played the closest singles match of the night, eventually winning 6-3, 7-5 at No. 4 singles, and Bowe won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 and Maria Bedford picked up a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 6 singles.
 
Saint Benedict has two weeks to prepare for its first MIAC contest of the season when it takes on St. Thomas at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, in Minneapolis. The Bennies return home Saturday, Feb. 22, when they host Concordia at 1 p.m.