The Johnnie tennis team returns to conference play with a pair of MIAC matches this weekend. SJU travels to face St. Thomas for a 12:30 p.m. match on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis. The Johnnies return home to host Carleton for a noon match Sunday, Feb. 19, at Gold's Gym in Sartell.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's claimed its first win of the season, 6-3, at St. Scholastica last Sunday in Duluth. Junior Fabricio Moncada (Managua, Nicaragua/Lincoln International Academy) tallied his first win this spring at No. 1 singles, while senior Ian Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) improved to 4-0 on the year with a victory at No. 2 singles. Sophomore Connor Rust (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) won in straight sets at No. 4 singles, while juniors Zach Shriwise (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) and Willie Paul (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) earned wins via the super-breaker at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively. Moncada teamed up with sophomore Joe Laue (St. Louis Park, Minn./Holy Angels) for the Johnnies' lone win in doubles competition, 8-2 at No. 2.

MIAC ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Hansen was named the first-ever MIAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week on Feb. 14. Hansen started the 2012 season with a perfect 4-0 record, including a 2-0 record at No. 1 singles against non-Division III opponents South Dakota State and St. Cloud State, as the Johnnies went 1-3 to start the year.

A LOOK AT THE TOMMIES: St. Thomas won its first match of the season, 7-2, against Wisconsin-La Crosse two weeks ago (Feb. 4). Senior Dan Cooper and junior Brian McCarthy won at No. 1 doubles, while winning at Nos. 2 and 1 singles, respectively. Junior Brendan O'Connell and freshman Allen-Michael Muench won at No. 3 doubles (9-8), and also claimed victories at Nos. 3 and 5 singles, respectively. St. Thomas finished the 2011 season with 15-4 record, falling to Carleton in the MIAC Tournament.

THE LAST MEETING: St. Thomas posted a 9-0 shutout over Saint John's last season. Hansen lost his match via the super-breaker, 10-8, at No. 2 singles. The Tommies won all of the other matches in straight sets.

A LOOK AT THE KNIGHTS: Carleton defeated Carthage (Wis.) 7-2 last Saturday to improve to 3-1 on the young season. Senior Peter Dunn and junior Paul Cooper won 8-3 at No. 2 doubles. Cooper also won at No. 6 singles. Freshman Avery Rux and junior Austin Jiang won 8-0 at the No. 3 doubles spot. The Knights won five of the six singles matches, losing only at No. 1 to the No. 23-ranked player in the nation from Carthage, Jeff Lotz. The Knights finished second at the MIAC Tournament with a 15-4 record last spring.

THE LAST MEETING: Saint John's ended its 2011 season with an 8-1 loss to Carleton last spring. Moncada tallied the Johnnies' lone victory at No. 1 singles (6-4, 6-4). Moncada and Hansen lost their match at No. 2 doubles by a slim 9-8 margin. The Knights won the remaining matches in straight sets.