ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict tennis team (3-4, 0-1 MIAC) is set to open its home schedule with two matches against MIAC opponents. The Bennies will face Bethel (8-2, 3-0 MIAC) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, and Macalester College at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, at Sta-Fit in Sartell, Minn. Originally scheduled for the Chang Tennis Complex in Collegeville, Minn., the matches have been moved indoors at Sta-Fit due to weather conditions.

Following these home matches, CSB will travel to face St. Catherine on April 4, Concordia-Moorhead on April 6, and Hamline on April 9 before returning home to play Saint Mary's on April 12.

Series Notes – Bethel

CSB holds a 22-12 all-time record against Bethel, although they have lost the last three matchups, including a 5-2 defeat on April 30, 2024. At home, the Bennies have a 10-5 record against the Royals, while their away record stands at 10-6. In conference play, CSB is 19-10 against Bethel, with the teams having played three neutral site matches where CSB leads 2-1. The first matchup was on April 29, 1983, when CSB won, 8-1.

Bethel Notes

Bethel, coached by Drew Fernelius in his 13th season, comes into the match with an 8-2 overall record and a 3-0 mark in MIAC play. The Royals have won four of their last five matches, including a 4-3 victory over No. 27 Grinnell on March 12. They recently defeated St. Scholastica, 7-2, in MIAC competition. Bethel has been strong in singles, posting a 47-13 record, and also excels in doubles with a 22-8 mark.

Series Notes – Macalester

CSB has a 21-12 all-time advantage over Macalester but has lost the last two meetings, including a narrow 5-4 loss on April 14, 2024. At home, the Bennies are 14-7 against the Scots, and they hold a 6-4 record in road contests. In conference play, CSB stands at 19-10, and the teams have split two neutral site matchups, with CSB winning, 5-2, in the first meeting on April 21, 1977.

Macalester Notes

Macalester, under interim head coach Chase Johnson, is 3-8 overall and 1-2 in MIAC play. The Scots have struggled on their spring break trip, losing three of four matches in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Macalester's singles record is 14-40, with a 5-22 mark in doubles.

Spring Break Recap

During their spring break trip, CSB earned wins over Western Connecticut State (7-0), St. Norbert College (4-3), and Crown College (7-0). They suffered losses to UW-LaCrosse (7-0), SUNY-New Paltz (5-2), and Hamilton College (7-0), playing their matches in Altamonte Springs and Orlando, Fla.

In their season opener on March 9, CSB lost 7-2 to St. Olaf. The Bennies earned two singles victories, with first-year Lila Collins winning a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (12-10) match at No. 5 and sophomore Kate Perbix securing a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 6. However, St. Olaf won four out of six singles matches and swept all three doubles contests.

CSB Tennis – By the Numbers

Through seven matches, CSB has a 19-23 record in singles and a 9-12 mark in doubles. Lila Collins leads the team with a 4-2 singles record, including a 3-2 mark at No. 5. Kate Perbix is 4-3 overall, with a 2-3 record at No. 6 and 1-0 at No. 4 and No. 5. Senior Sophia Jonas is 2-4 at No. 1, while sophomore Ella Marohl is 2-5 at No. 2. Sophomore Ryanna Steinhaus holds a 2-5 record, with both wins coming at No. 3. First-year Allyson Yahn is 2-4, while Hannah Helms is 2-0, and Marie Labenski is 1-0 in singles.

In doubles play, Labenski and Steinhaus are 3-2 at No. 3, Perbix and Yahn are 2-3 at No. 2, and Jonas and Marohl are 1-4 at No. 1. Helms and Labenski, Marohl and Perbix, and Collins and Yahn all have a 1-0 record in doubles.