Saint John's tennis returns to the court by hosting Hamline at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at Sta-Fit in Sartell. 

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (0-1, 0-1 MIAC) opened its 2026 season with a 7-0 loss to No. 21 Gustavus Adolphus two weeks ago (Feb. 13) in Sartell. Junior Alex Draeger (Litchfield, Minn.) and sophomore Cole Haabala (Alexandria, Minn.) won the Johnnies' lone match at No. 1 doubles – 7-5 – but the Gusties earned the doubles point with narrow 6-4 victories at Nos. 2 and 3. Draeger went 10-6 (5-4 MIAC) at No. 2 doubles last spring. Haabala recorded SJU's closest match in singles play at No. 5, 6-2 and 6-3.

A LOOK AT THE PIPERS: Friday's match serves as the MIAC opener for Hamline (0-4, 0-0 MIAC), which has dropped its first four contests of the 2026 season. The Pipers return two from last year's lineup in sophomore Matthew George and junior Brendon Sebring. George went 6-11 across Nos. 4-6 singles and 6-5 in doubles, playing mostly at the No. 3 spot. Sebring went 11-5 in singles, primarily at No. 5 and finished 7-9 across Nos. 2 and 3 doubles. Junior Wyatt Crowell, a transfer from North Central (Ill.), has played at the top spot for the Pipers so far this season. He did not play last season after being named to the All-CCIW second team in 2024 thanks to a 20-3 singles record (mostly at No. 4) and a 27-3 record across Nos. 1 and 2 doubles. 

LAST APRIL: Hamline won three matches thanks to a tie-breaker to edge SJU by a 5-4 score last April 5 (2025) at InnerCity Tennis in Minneapolis. The Pipers claimed the win at No. 1 doubles with an 8-7 decision, thanks to a 7-2 score in the tie-breaker, and at No. 3 with an 8-4 margin. Draeger and junior Sam Wolden (St. Louis Park, Minn.) moved their season record to 8-4 (3-1 MIAC) at No. 2 doubles for SJU with an 8-2 win. HU recorded wins at Nos. 3 (4-6, 6-0, 10-7) and 5 (3-6, 6-4, 10-6) singles via the super-breaker.  

Wolden improved to 8-2 (4-0 MIAC) at No. 2 (6-3, 6-4), while Draeger won his 10th-consecutive singles match at No. 4 (6-4, 7-6/7-2). Senior Josh Peterson (Perham, Minn.) recorded the Johnnies' fourth point with a victory at No. 6 singles (6-4, 7-5). 

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 31-4 against Hamline since the 1992 season, including a 15-1 record on their home court (7-0 in Collegeville, 6-1 in Sartell and 2-0 in St. Joseph).