SARTELL, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict tennis team (0-1, 0-1 MIAC) opened the season with a 5-2 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback to Hamline University (4-3, 1-1 MIAC) on Saturday at Sta-Fit.

The Bennies fell to 0–1 overall and in MIAC play after a tightly contested match that featured two singles victories and a split in doubles.

First-year Ellie Huber (Sioux Falls, S.D.) made an impressive collegiate debut, earning a win at No. 1 singles with a 0-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4) comeback decision over Hamline's Vanessa Pham. CSB's second singles point came at No. 4, where sophomore Lila Collins (Brainerd, Minn.) battled past Christine Muller 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

At No. 2 singles, junior Ella Marohl (St. Cloud, Minn.) was edged 5-7, 0-6 by Chloe Reyes, while sophomore Allyson Yahn (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) dropped a close 5-7, 4-6 decision to Elanna Kohner at No. 3. Junior Marie Labenski (Northfield, Minn.) pushed her match to a super tiebreak at No. 5 but fell 1-6, 6-1, 0-1 (12-10) to Emily Dreger.

In doubles play, St. Benedict claimed one of three matches. Huber and Labenski posted a 6-3 victory at No. 1 doubles over Pham and Reyes. Hamline secured the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3.

CSB returns to action with a MIAC home match against St. Olaf College on Sunday, March 8 at Sta-Fit in Sartell, Minn.