Saint John's tennis returns to MIAC play with two home matches this weekend at Sta-Fit in Sartell, beginning with a 1 p.m. tilt vs. St. Olaf on Saturday, March 18. The Johnnies then host Saint Mary's at noon on Sunday, March 19.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (2-6, 0-1 MIAC) went 1-5 during its spring-break trip in the Orlando (Fla.) area last week (March 5-10). Five Johnnies won two matches or more on the trip, led by junior Mark Rosen (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) and his 4-2 mark in singles play. Classmate Ian Aadland (Brainerd, Minn.) went 2-2 in doubles and 2-1 in singles, while senior Joe Dwyer (Hibbing, Minn.) posted a 2-0 record in doubles competition and sophomore Ryan Will (Northfield, Minn.) was 2-3 in singles play.

STRONG COMPETITION: The Johnnies' six opponents in Florida currently combine for a 37-23 record (.617). The lone opponent that has a record below .500 – Saint Vincent (Pa.) at 2-3 – was SJU's win on the trip (a 9-0 score).

A LOOK AT THE OLES: St. Olaf (4-5, 1-3 MIAC) dropped a pair of close 5-4 decisions to St. Scholastica (Feb. 19) and Bethel (Feb. 24), but bounced back with a 9-0 win vs. Wisconsin-Stevens Point (March 4) and an 8-1 victory at Saint Mary's last Saturday (March 11). The Oles are 6-3 at No. 2 singles, led by freshman Bogdan Vizoli and his 4-1 record (a team-leading 6-4 mark overall).

LAST SPRING: SJU recorded a 7-2 win over St. Olaf last March 19 (2022) at the West Hills Tennis and Fitness Center in Owatonna. The Johnnies won two of the three doubles matches and five singles bouts in straight sets. Both wins for St. Olaf were thanks to a tie-breaker.

SERIES HISTORY: Last spring's victory was SJU's sixth-consecutive in the series. The overall series, however, is tied at 18-18 since 1989 (2-3 in Sartell).

A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's (7-6, 0-3 MIAC) suffered an aforementioned 8-1 loss to St. Olaf last weekend. The Cardinals' lone win came from sophomore Tucker Stene at No. 4 singles: 6-4, 3-6 and 10-7. He leads the team with a 9-5 singles record, including a 7-3 mark at No. 4. SMU hosts Concordia-Moorhead Saturday before Sunday's trip to Sartell.

A YEAR AGO: SJU moved to 3-0 in the MIAC with a 6-3 win at Saint Mary's last Feb. 26 (2022) at the Winona Tennis Center. The Johnnies won two of the three doubles matches and claimed five singles bouts in straight sets. 

Senior Wil McDowell (Sioux Falls, S.D./O'Gorman) earned his first win at No. 1 singles (6-1, 6-3), but was dealt a defeat with classmate Hunter Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar) at No. 1 doubles (8-4). 

Senior Peyton Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar) and Will posted an 8-0 shutout at No. 2 doubles, though Fischer later suffered a loss at No. 2 singles via the super-breaker: 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 10-3. Rosen and junior Will Deters (Minneapolis, Minn./Wayzata) tallied an 8-3 victory at No. 3 doubles.

The Cardinals' other win came at No. 3 singles.

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 33-2 against the Cardinals since 1989 with a 3-1 record in Sartell. SJU has won 24 of the last 25 meetings and each of the last six overall.