ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict tennis team gave Saint Mary's everything it had, but came up just short Saturday afternoon in the team's 2021 outdoor debut.
 
CSB fell 7-2 to the Cardinals, including a pair of extra-set matches that went to Saint Mary's.
 
"(Saturday) was a frustrating day because we are doing the right things," head coach Michael Engdahl said. "We just can't catch a break and get some bounces to go our way. SMU made us play and played some good tennis. The only thing we can do it keep working hard and our players are doing just that."
 
Maria Bedford and Grace Lee got the Bennies (2-5, 0-4) on the board with an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles. Kayla McIver and Lily Fredericks lost 8-4 at No. 1 doubles and Peyton Kopel and Jane Bodensteiner lost by the same score at No. 2 doubles.
 
Kopel picked up the team's lone singles win at No. 3 singles. After winning the first set 6-2, she fell 7-6 in the second set, but held on to win the extra set 10-6. Fredericks and Lee both took their matches to extra sets but fell just short. Fredericks lost 5-7, 6-4, 10-7 at No. 2 singles and Lee fell 6-4, 2-6, 11-9 at No. 6 singles.
 
McIver fell 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles and Bodensteiner lost 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles. Bedford fell 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5 singles.
 
The team is off now until Saturday, April 17, when they host Bethel at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph.