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ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – For the first time since May 2015, the College of Saint Benedict tennis team earned a spot in the MIAC Tournament – and the Bennies are ready to go.
 
Sixth-seeded CSB makes its 2022 MIAC Tournament debut Tuesday, May 3, when it heads to Minneapolis for a 3:30 p.m. match against No. 3 St. Kate's. The match is scheduled to be played at Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis.
 
Saint Benedict put together a solid conference season to earn its first spot in the MIAC Tournament in seven seasons and its 10^th since 2004. The Bennies finished conference play 5-5 – the team's best MIAC record since 2014-15. CSB is 9-8 overall heading into the conference tournament, the most wins for the program since 2018-19.
 
The Bennies and Wildcats (11-3) faced off less than two weeks ago on April 22 when St. Kate's came away with a 6-3 win at Sta-Fit in Sartell. That match could have gone either way – and this time, Saint Benedict looks to turn the tables.
 
St. Kate's swept doubles play, but all three matches were within a few sets. Jane Bodensteiner and Sophia Jonas nearly forced extra sets as they pushed their Wildcat opponents before falling 8-7, and Maria Bedford and Greta Nesbit pushed the match to 8-6 at No. 3 doubles.
 
Nesbit, Bodensteiner and Jonas all won their respective singles matches, and senior Grace Lee nearly forced a third set as she fell 6-5, 7-6 at No. 6 singles.
 
A win Tuesday would mark the team's first MIAC Tournament win since 2011. That year, the fourth-seeded Bennies beat No. 5 St. Thomas 7-2 in the quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded Gustavus in the semis.
 
No. 5 St. Olaf is at No. 4 Bethel in the other quarterfinal match. The lowest remaining seed takes on No. 1 Gustavus Thursday, May 5, and the highest remaining seed goes to Carleton that same day. The MIAC Championship match is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, with the high seed hosting.