ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict tennis team (0-1), which opened its seasonwith a 7-2 loss to St. Olaf in MIAC play (March 9), are set for a spring break trip to Orlando, Fla., where they will face six teams from March 16-21.

Four of the spring break opponents will be facing CSB for the first time. After returning from their trip, the Bennies will host Bethel at 11 a.m. on March 29 and Macalester at 3 p.m. on March 30 in their first home MIAC matches of the spring. In April, CSB will play nine more contests leading up to the MIAC Tournament from April 30 to May 3.

Spring Break Opponents:

• Western Connecticut State (5-9)
  • March 16 – 1 p.m. – Altamonte Springs, Fla. – Sanlando Park
  • Led by 11th-year head coach Shawn Stillman (1994 alumnus), Western Connecticut State is 5-9 with two wins in their last three matches. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
• UW-La Crosse (12-2)
  • March 17 – 2:30 p.m. – Orlando, Fla. – USTA Campus
  • UW-La Crosse has a strong 12-2 start to the season, with three wins in their last four games. CSB and UW-La Crosse have met once before, with the Bennies falling 5-4 in the 2011 season. Head coach Bill Hehli, with 452 career wins, is in his 30th year as head coach.
• St. Norbert (8-8)
  • March 18 – 10 a.m. – Altamonte Springs, Fla. – Sanlando Park
  • St. Norbert College is currently 8-8, but has struggled recently with a 4-6 record over the past 10 matches. This will be the first time CSB faces the Green Knights, who are coached by John Steckart in his fourth season.
• SUNY New Paltz (7-0)
  • March 19 – 1 p.m. – Orlando, Fla. – USTA Campus
  • SUNY New Paltz is off to a perfect start with a 7-0 record. Head coach Rob Bruley, in his 27th season, has led the team to nine SUNYAC championships. This will be the first meeting between the two teams, with New Paltz having won six of their seven matches by 7-0 scores.
• Hamilton College (2-2)
  • March 21 – 2:30 p.m. – Orlando, Fla. – USTA Campus
  • Hamilton has opened the season with a 2-2 record. In their most recent match, they lost 7-0 to No. 8 Middlebury. This will be the first-ever match between CSB and Hamilton, coached by Billy Boykin in his first year.
• Crown College (0-6)
  • March 21 – 5 p.m. – Orlando, Fla. – USTA Campus
  • Crown is currently 0-6, most recently suffering a 7-0 loss to Saint Mary's (Minn.). CSB leads the all-time series 1-0 after a 9-0 win on March 2, 2018.

Recap – St. Olaf Defeats CSB 7-2
In their season opener on March 9 in Owatonna, the College of Saint Benedict fell, 7-2, to St. Olaf. The Bennies earned two singles victories. First-year Lila Collins battled to a 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (12-10) win at No. 5 singles, while sophomore Kate Perbix cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 6. However, St. Olaf won the other singles matches, capturing four out of six contests.

• At No. 1, senior Sophia Jonas fell, 6-1, 6-2, to Olha Zubarieva.
• At No. 2, sophomore Ella Marohl lost, 6-2, 6-1, to Jane Spalding.
• First-year Allyson Yahn was defeated, 6-0, 6-2, by Fiona O'Flaherty at No. 3.
• Sophomore Ryanna Steinhaus lost, 6-1, 6-2, to Alexandra Berns at No. 4.

In doubles play, St. Olaf swept all three matches. Zubarieva and Spalding beat Jonas and Marohl, 8-1, at No. 1, O'Flaherty and Berns triumphed 8-2 over Perbix and Yahn at No. 2, and Clark and Emma Clift secured an 8-3 victory over CSB's Ava Stritesky and Marie Labenski in No. 3 doubles.