ST JOSEPH, Minn.-- The College of Saint Benedict Tennis team (7-9) has been seeded No. 6 seed and will face No. 3 Bethel (17-3) in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs (MIAC) Tennis Playoffs on Tuesday (April 30) at 3:30 p.m., at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex in Arden Hills, Minn.

CSB finished the regular season at 7-9 overall and 5-5 in the MIAC and tied for fifth with St. Olaf (5-5). Tied in overall record, CSB had a 7-2 win over St. Olaf in the conference season and won the tiebreaker.

Directed by head coach Jack Bowe, CSB lost to Bethel, 6-3,  earlier this season on April 20 at Rogers Tennis Center. Saint Benedict will make its third straight appearance in the MIAC postseason playoffs. In the other quarterfinal matchup, No. 4 Macalester (6-4) hosts No. 5 St. Catherine  (6-4).

In the semifinals, regular season champion Carleton (10-0) is the top-seed and will face the lowest remaining seed in Northfield, Minn., on Thursday, May 2 while No. 2 Gustavus (9-1) will host the higher seed in St. Peter. Both semifinal matches are tentatively set for 3:30 p.m., starts. Saturday's Championship match is tentatively set for 1:00 p.m., on the home court of the top remaining seed.

Match dates, times and locations are subject to change due to weather. The tournament victor will receive the MIAC championship plaque and the Conference's automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament. Carleton is a six-time champion, enjoying a three-peat from 2012-2014 and three more in 2019, 2022, 2023. Newly Division I St. Thomas secured MIAC titles in 2015 and 2021.

Saint Benedict and Bethel in the MIAC Tournament
In 10 playoff appearances, CSB has played 15 matches with a 4-11 overall record. Bethel is 7-8 in eight appearances, Saint Benedict has made previous appearances in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022 and 2023. A year ago, CSB was the No. 6 seed and fell to No. 3 Bethel, 5-4. The Royals advanced to the semifinals a year ago, falling to No. 37 nationally-ranked Gustavus Adolphus 5-0. Saint Benedict's last quarterfinal win was a 7-2 victory over the University of  St. Thomas in 2011 when the Bennies were the No. 4 seed. CSB went on to lose the semifinal matchup to No. 1 Gustavus Adolphus. In terms of Championships, CSB has not advanced to a final but reached the tourney semifinals four times. Gustavus has won eight titles, with Carleton winning six while former member St. Thomas won two. However, CSB won three regular season Midwestern Women's Collegiate Conference season titles in the 1983-85 seasons with head coach Randy Anderson.

Series notes - CSB leads 22-11
CSB leads the all-time series, 22-11, but lost,6-3, in the last matchup on April 20, 2024. Saint Benedict, which won 12 straight matches from March 21, 2003, to April 2, 2012, owns a 10-4 home record against the Royals and carries a 10-6 record on the road with a 19-10 conference mark. Bethel has won four of the last five matches with CSB taking a 5-4 decision on April 22, 2023. In the first matchup, Saint Benedict won by an 8-1 decision on April 29, 1983.

Breaking down the Royals
Bethel is directed by Drew Fernelius, who is in his 12th season. Bethel finished the regular season with a 17-3 overall record including a 7-3 MIAC record. The Royals are led by Julia Baber at No. 1 singles (16-4) and Lauren Douglas (14-6) at No. 2. In doubles play, the pair of Douglas and Baber are 6-1 competing at No. 1 doubles.

Tarrolly receives votes for NCAA Region IV rankings
Junior Ashley Tarrolly, who has a 7-6 overall record, received votes in the latest region rankings on April 22.

Player/Individual Notes
Ashley Tarrolly of St. Cloud, Minn., who is 7-6, including 5-5 in the MIAC, at No. 1 singles and 8-5 (7-3 in the MIAC) at No. 1 doubles this season, was All-MIAC and named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators a year ago. She was regionally ranked No. 6 in singles in NCAA DIII Region VII. Tarrolly has a 21-11 record in her career in singles and 13-10 in MIAC play. In doubles, she has a 20-15 overall record in her career, which includes 12-8 in MIAC play.

Peyton Kopel is 4-12 (4-6 in the MIAC) in singles this year with an 0-3 mark at No. 1 and 4-9 at No. 2. She is 10-6 overall and 9-4 at No. 2 doubles with junior Greta Nesbit. In 2022-23, Kopel was named to the All-MIAC doubles team. In her career, she is now 24-39 in singles and 16-23 in MIAC play. In doubles, Kopel has a 35-29 record, including 21-18 in the MIAC.

Greta Nesbit, a junior mathematics major from Le Sueur, Minn., has a 6-10 singles mark, including 5-8 at No. 3.  Nesbit, who is 4-6 in the MIAC in singles, has an 10-6 doubles mark, including 8-2 in the MIAC, with Kopel at No. 2. Named All-MIAC a year ago, she has a 26-25 overall career singles record, including 16-13 in MIAC play. In doubles, she stands 23-14 with a 16-8 mark in the MIAC.

Jane Bodensteiner, an accounting major from Palatine, Ill., is 7-9, including 5-5 in MIAC play, in singles this season, playing at No. 3 and No. 4. In doubles, she is 10-5, playing at all three spots at various times. Overall, in her career, she has a 32-27 record in singles, which includes a 20-19 MIAC mark. In doubles, she is 37-22 in her career and 22-15 in the MIAC.  

Sophia Jonas is 7-7, including 5-5 in MIAC play, at No. 5 singles and 10-5, including 7-3 in the MIAC, at No. 1 doubles this season. She is 17-20 in singles and 23-21 in doubles in her two years at CSB. 

First-year Ryanna Steinhaus of Litchfield, Minn., is 5-8 (4-5 in MIAC play) at No. 6 singles and 0-1 in doubles play. First-year Kate Perbix is 8-6 (6-3 in the MIAC) in doubles play this year.