ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict opened its 2021-22 home season and wrapped up fall play with a pair of nonconference wins Saturday afternoon. The Bennies beat Wartburg 7-2 and then picked up a 6-3 win over MSU-Moorhead, a Division II opponent.
This marks the second straight season and fifth time in the last six years that Saint Benedict has at least one win against a Division II school.
"Overall, Saturday was a great day for us," head coach
Michael Engdahl said. "Everyone has to be so proud of the work they put in this fall season. You can tell we are bought in and ready to take on any challenge this spring. If we keep improving the way we have over the last three weeks, we are going to be a dangerous team this spring."
In the first match of the day, CSB (3-1) took a 2-1 lead over Wartburg (4-2) heading out of doubles play.
Ashley Tarrolly and
Lily Fredericks started things off with an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles and
Peyton Kopel and
Jane Bodensteiner won 8-3 at No. 3 doubles.
Maria Bedford and
Grace Lee fell 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.
The Bennies went on to win five of the six singles matches to seal the win. Tarrolly won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1 singles, and Fredericks picked up a tiebreaker win at No. 2 singles. She won 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). First year
Greta Nesbit won 6-3, 7-5 at No. 4 singles, Bodensteiner won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5 and
Sophia Jonas rounded out the day with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 6 singles. Kopel dropped a marathon match at No. 3 singles, winning the first set 6-0 but falling 6-3 and 13-11.
In the second match of the day, the Bennies once again took a 2-1 lead thanks to wins at No. 1 and 3 doubles. Tarrolly and Fredericks won 8-0 at No. 1 doubles and Kopel and Jonas picked up an 8-1 win at No. 3 doubles. Bedford and Bodensteiner fell 8-5 at No. 2 doubles.
Moorhead picked up wins at No. 2 and 5 singles, but the Bennies won four of the six matches to come away with the win. Tarrolly won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles and Lee picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles. Nesbit won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5 singles, and Bodensteiner won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 singles. Fredericks lost 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles and Kopel fell 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
Saturday's matches wrap up the fall portion of the season for most of CSB's roster. A handful of individuals travel to Whitewater, Wis., Sept. 24-26 for the ITA Midwest Regional to take on some of the best competition in the region.
