ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's tennis team will take on Saint John's in the first round of the MIAC playoffs today in St. Joseph, Minn. The Scots and Johnnies tied for fourth during the regular season with 5-4 records. The winner of today's dual advances to face top-seeded Gustavus Adolphus on Friday, May 6.

Macalester, coached by Jason Muhl, compiled a 10-8 record overall for the program's most victories in a season since 2010. This is also the second MIAC playoff berth in a row for the Scots, who fell to St. Thomas, 6-3 in the first round last year. Sophomore Josh Doyle (Cologne, Germany/Friedrich Wilhelm Gymnasium) and senior Brian Utz (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) are the team's top two singles players, with Doyle compiling a 14-7 record at No. 1 singles and Utz also going 14-7 at No. 2 singles. Doyle and Utz also are 15-6 as the Scots' No. 1 doubles tandem.

In the regular-season meeting between Macalester and Saint John's, the Johnnies won 7-2, with Doyle at first singles and Doyle and Utz at first doubles accounting for the Scots' points. Losses at third and fifth singles went to a super tie-breaker, while tie-breakers also were lost at second and sixth singles.

The dual is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. at the College of Saint Benedict Tennis Courts in St. Joseph, Minn.

MIAC Men's Tennis Playoffs
First round - May 4
No. 5 Macalester at No. 4 Saint John's, 4:00 p.m.

Semifinals - May 6
No. 4/5 winner at No. 1 Gustavus, 3:30 p.m.
No. 3 St. Thomas at No. 2 Carleton, 3:30 p.m.

Championship - May 8
Semifinal winners at highest seed, 1:00 p.m.