MINNEAPOLIS (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's tennis team defeated Hamline University in the first match of the day, but suffered a close defeat to Bethel University in the nightcap on Saturday.

CSS vs. Hamline
The Saints began the day by defeating Hamline 7-2. CSS had no issues in doubles play, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the dual. Alexis Gunderson (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) and Jessica Solberg (Bemidji, Minn. /Bemidji HS) at No. 1 won 8-3. The No. 2 team of Madeleine Scanlan (St. Albans, England /Loreto College) and Alexa Herbst (Foley, Minn. /Foley HS) won 8-2. The No. 3 tandem of Allie Carlson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin HS) and Katie Kingston (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) prevailed 8-1.

In singles play, Gunderson won at the No. 1 spot 7-5, 6-3. Solberg took care of business at No. 2 by scores of 6-0, 6-2. Scanlan also improved to 2-0 on the year with a 6-1, 6-4 win at the No. 3 spot. The final winner for the Saints was Kingston at No. 5 by scores of 6-1, 6-1.

CSS vs. Bethel
The Saints would suffer its first defeat of the season in the nightcap, dropping a close 5-4 decision to Bethel. CSS started out well, winning two of the three doubles matches. Scanlan and Herbst won at the No. 2 spot 8-4. The No. 1 team of Gunderson and Solberg pulled out a tight match 9-8 (7-2).

However in singles play, the first three matches to finish went to the Royals, including at the No. 1 spot in a third set super-breaker. Kingston won at the No. 5 spot 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 to keep the Saints alive.

However, it was the No. 4 singles match that determined the match as the Royals rallied to win in a super-breaker. Both super-breakers the Saints lost, CSS won the first set comfortably. Solberg won at the No. 2 spot 9-7 to make the final tally 5-4.

The Saints (2-1) will next be in action on Sunday, February 16th when they host Concordia College-Moorhead at the Arrowhead Tennis Center.