Conference doormats St Mary’s entered the raucous Macalester Fieldhouse Saturday, Feb. 7 looking to avenge an embarrassing 8-1 loss to the Scots at last year’s conference tournament. The Scots came into the match supremely confident, having nearly upset Gustavus in last year’s tournament quarterfinals, losing a heartbreaking 9-0 decision to the Gusties, who would go on to place third at nationals.

Unfortunately for Macalester, the home opener quickly turned, placing the Scots in a losing position. After being swept in the three opening doubles matches, the bottom of Macalester’s lineup performed admirably for sixth-year Head Coach Eric Eberhardt. Number 4 player Nick Werth ’06, fresh off his one-semester suspension due to “conduct detrimental to the team,” came back with a vengeance, securing a 6-4, 7-6 win at No. 4 singles over his heavy-set St. Mary’s opponent. It was also a first for Alex Hiller ’04, who returned to the courts he once kind of dominated after a one-year absence from tennis. The return proved worthwhile, as he won his No. 5 singles match in dramatic fashion, 3-6, 6-3 (10-4).

“While making scrill is important to Team Alex (T.A.), no bling equals the thrill of victory,” said Hiller immediately following the match. “T.A. is going undefeated and untied this year.”

Eric “E-Town” Brandt ’05, now in his third consecutive season at No. 6 singles, annihilated his out-classed and out-dressed opponent 6-3, 6-0. “With the girls team watching, I had no choice but to show them everything I have to offer,” proclaimed the predictably arrogant Brandt. “And E-town has a lot to offer.”

Losses at 1, 2 and 3 singles, however, secured the Scots’ fate, as the Cardinals of St. Mary’s took the match 6-3.

The women’s team provided little inspiration for the men to build on as they competed in the front end of the double header Saturday, also against St. Mary’s. Number 1 singles transfer Christy Hagstrum ’06 started off her first MIAC match in dramatic fashion, winning 2-6, 6-3 (10-3). Number 2 singles player Erin Case ’05 also won a close 6-4, 7-5 match. Third through sixth singles and all three doubles were not as successful however, all losing in straight sets.

The next Saturday, Feb. 14, against Bethel, the Scots looked to resurrect the caliber of play that has defeated the Crusaders in each of the past three seasons. The match got off to a positive start as the No. 3 doubles team of Tobin Kauffman-Osborn ’07 and Andrew “Trainwreck” Kessel ’07 used a stellar combination of height and lack of height to defeat their opponents 8-4. After No. 2 doubles got obliterated 8-3, it was down to the No. 1 doubles team of Jake Depue ’04 and Werth to secure the Scots an early lead. Despite an impressive display of lobbing from Werth and returning from Depue, the duo was unable to match the spiritual intensity of Bethel, succumbing in an extremely close 9-8 (4) loss.

In singles play, No. 1 player Depue evened his record at 1-1 on the young season with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) triumph over Bethel’s Anthony Branitski. “Despite being upset in the first match of the year, I knew my chances of winning the MIAC ended if I lost to Bethel,” Depue said. “Now those chances will end when we play St. Thomas.”

An uncharacteristic lack of focus was evident in sophomore Spencer Edelman’s 6-2, 6-2 loss at No. 2 singles, while Werth pushed his winning streak to 3 (dating back to last April’s conference tournament), with a humiliating 6-1, 6-2 win over his badly overmatched opponent. Number 6 Brandt continued his victory streak as well, winning a marathon 1-6, 7-6, (10-8) match to take his third match in a row. Close losses at 4 and 5 singles prevented the Scots from experiencing the sweet taste of victory, losing a heartbreaking match 5-4.

The women were faced with a tough challenge as well. Not only were they facing an improved Bethel team, but they were also missing two of their top players due to a scheduling conflict with basketball. The women ended up falling 2-7. Case and Sayoko Nakamura ’06 won Macalester’s only points in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots.

“Of course things will improve,” Coach Eberhardt reassuringly explained.

The Macalester men look to rebound this weekend with a long road trip to Grinnell to play both Grinnell and University of Chicago. The women will host Minnesota-Duluth Saturday, Feb. 21.