MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men's tennis team dropped a 5-4 nail-biter to Hamline University in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play on Sunday afternoon at InnerCity Tennis.

St. Olaf (1-3, 1-3 MIAC) trailed Hamline (5-4, 1-4 MIAC) 2-1 after doubles and was down 4-3 with two singles matches remaining on court. Needing to win both super tiebreakers at No. 1 and No. 6 singles, the Oles won one of the two to account for the final 5-4 margin.

In doubles, sophomore Henry Kruse and senior Karsten Johnson put the first point on the board for St. Olaf with an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles for their second victory in as many MIAC matches as a tandem. The Pipers claimed 8-6 and 8-4 wins at the top-two doubles spots, respectively, to take a 2-1 lead into singles.

First year Marjan Veldic evened his record at 2-2 in conference play with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles in the first singles match to end. Senior Jakub Belik followed with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 5 singles to cancel out Hamline's straight-set win at No. 3 singles, but the Pipers got another win at No. 4 singles to take a 4-3 lead with two matches remaining.

Hamline clinched the victory with a 10-6 super-tiebreaker win at No. 6 singles before sophomore Bogdan Vizoli outlasted Rumeal Setts for a 7-5, 2-6, 17-15 win at No. 1 singles in a match that saw both players hold several match points.

St. Olaf is back in action against UW-Eau Claire on Sunday, March 10 at 11:30 a.m. at Life Time Fitness in Bloomington.