Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

By Jesse Robinson

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men’s tennis team finishes the regular season unbeaten in the conference for a 12th consecutive season with a 9-0 victory this afternoon over the University of Minnesota-Morris in the Burns Wellness Commons.

This is the 13th consecutive Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season championship for the Saints. CSS ends up 13-9 overall and 10-0 in the conference. The conference dual-match unbeaten streak will be at 75 at the start of next season. The Cougars fall to 2-9 overall and 1-8 in the conference.

In doubles, the No. 1 team of Brendan Anderson (So.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) and Tucker Combs (So.-White Bear Lake, Minn.) won 8-4. The No. 2 team of Dillon Sterle (Jr.-Hibbing, Minn.) and Jacob Engelstad (Fr.-Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln) and the No. 3 team of Tim Dean (Jr.-Rhinelander, Wis.) and Cody Bottem (Fr.-Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln) both shut out their opponents 8-0. Dean and Bottem are 10-1 on the campaign.

In singles, Dillon Sterle had no troubles with his opponent, winning by scores of 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 1 spot. At No. 2, Jacob Engelstad won 6-2, 6-2 and Brendan Anderson at No. 3 won 6-3, 6-0. Engelstad has won a team-high 12 matches this season. Kevin Hilpert (Fr.-Stillwater, Minn.) was victorious at the No. 4 spot by scores of 6-2, 6-1. Cody Bottem topped his opponent at the No. 5 spot 6-0, 6-1. Finally at No. 6, Tom Schneuer (So.-Duluth, Minn./Central) won 6-0, 6-3 for his fourth straight victory.

The Saints will compete at the UMAC Postseason Tournament next weekend at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis. Friday’s action begins at 11 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Saturday.