SARTELL, Minn. – After beating St. Thomas last season for the first time since 2012, the College of Saint Benedict tennis team was hoping to use that momentum and add another notch to the W column against the Tommies in what is likely the last time the two teams will play.
The Tommies, however, had other ideas.
CSB fell 9-0 to UST Sunday in a MIAC match at Sta-Fit in Sartell. The Bennies are now 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the MIAC, while UST in 4-3 overall and 4-0 in the league.
"(Sunday) we didn't get the scores we wanted, but we battled hard," head coach
Michael Engdahl said. "It was a good reminder of the intensity we need to bring to every MIAC match this season. I think it was a great match to build off of as we get deeper into the MIAC season."
Saint Benedict's No. 1 doubles team of
Kayla McIver and
Lily Fredericks gave UST a run for its money and pushed as the Tommies before falling 8-6.
Peyton Kopel and
Jane Bodensteiner fell 8-2 at No. 2 doubles, and
Maria Bedford and
Grace Lee lost by the same score at No. 3 doubles.
McIver gave chase at No. 1 singles before falling 6-1, 6-3, and Fredericks fell 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Kopel (No. 3 singles) and Bodensteiner (No. 4) both lost 6-0, 6-0. Bedford fought hard in her second set before falling 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5 singles, and Lee lost 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6.
The Bennies are off now until Friday, April 9, when they head to St. Peter to take on Gustavus. CSB's first outdoor match of the season is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 10 against Saint Mary's.
