MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Two members of the College of Saint Benedict tennis team picked up their first collegiate wins Friday night in the team's MIAC opener against St. Kate's.
 
First year Marissa Pax and sophomore Brooke Tonnessen teamed up to win 8-4 at No. 3 doubles – the Bennies' lone win in an 8-1 loss to the Wildcats at Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis.
 
"It was a tough match for us (Friday) night," head coach Michael Engdahl said. "A ton of credit goes to St. Kate's for playing hard and playing great tennis. You could tell we were a little shaky to start, and it was hard for us to regroup. I think it's going to feel amazing to get back on the court (Saturday) evening."
 
Pax and Tonnessen – both playing in their first collegiate varsity matches – picked up an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles to get the Bennies (1-1, 0-1) on the board and keep the team within one, 2-1, after the conclusion of doubles play. But the Wildcats (4-0, 3-0) swept singles play to hold on for the win. Kayla McIver and Lily Fredericks fell 8-1 and No. 1 doubles, and Anne Bowe and Peyton Kopel fell 8-0 at No. 2 doubles.
 
Fredericks pushed her match to extra sets at No. 2 singles, but ultimately fell 6-4, 2-6, 11-9. McIver lost 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, and Kopel fell by the same score at No. 3 singles. Jane Bodensteiner lost 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4 singles, Grace Lee fell 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 singles and Bowe rounded out the match falling 7-5, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.
 
CSB is back in action and back at home Saturday, March 20, when the team takes on Division II rival St. Cloud State starting at 5:30 p.m. at Sta-Fit in Sartell. Per CSB and Sta-Fit policy, no fans are allowed.