GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The St. Olaf College men's tennis team dropped its first dual match of the season by a 7-0 score to the University of North Dakota on Saturday afternoon at Choice Health and Fitness.

Facing NCAA Division I opposition to start the season, St. Olaf (0-1) was blanked by North Dakota (8-0), which remained undefeated this season with the win. The two programs were meeting for the first time since an 8-1 victory for the Fighting Hawks on April 24, 2017.

The Oles won two games in each of the three doubles matches, as North Dakota claimed the doubles point with a sweep. The match was played under the NCAA Division I scoring format, which awards one point to the team that wins the majority of the three doubles matches.

In singles play, the Fighting Hawks did not drop more than one game in any set to close out the match. In his debut at No. 1 singles, first year Bogdan Vizoli won a game in each set of his match against Gerhard Sullwald, while junior Jerusalem Thao claimed a game in each of his sets at No. 5 singles against Jerall Yasin.

St. Olaf opens Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play on the road against nationally-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m.