ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University men's tennis team wrapped up their fall season with a pair of convincing wins Wednesday afternoon over Northwestern College and Bethany Lutheran. The Royals won five of the six singles and two of three doubles matches from Northwestern for a 7-2 win and swept all nine matches against Bethany Lutheran.
“This was a great way to end our fall winning nearly all of our matches,” said Royals head tennis coach Drew Fernelius. “It was a beautiful day and was a chance for all 13 of our student athletes to play.”
The day started with the Royals taking on Northwestern in doubles matches and the top pair of Tucker Morris and Reggie Ronning defeated the #1 doubles team from NWC 8-3. The Royals #2 double team of Kirby Ronning and Nick Sundholm were defeated 8-2. Ronning, however would go on to defeat one of the same Eagles competitors in the individual match at #3 singles, 6-3, 6-3.
“Coming back in singles and beating the same kid he lost to in doubles was a good win for Kirby,” said coach Fernelius.
The #3 double pair of Brett Lizotte and Luke Horstman was victorious 8-1. In singles play the lone win for Northwestern was a tough match at #1 singles where David Knight defeated Tucker Morris 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), (10-12).
“Tucker played a very good opponent who was a state champion in Iowa and had some match points but couldn't quite pull it out,” coach Fernelius said.
Reggie Ronning won his match in convincing fashion at #2 singles 6-2, 6-0. Kirby Ronning, Luke Palmquist, Luke Horstman, and Nate Reidlemen were all victorious in #3-6 singles matches.
Against Bethany Lutheran the Royals singles players where Nick Sundholm, Jared Wall, Charles Benson, Chris Lund, Eric Lundberg and Jacob Johnson, all of whom won handily. The three doubles teams of Luke Palmquist/Brett Lizotte, Chalres Benson/Jared Wall, and Jacob Johnson/Eric Lundberg, lost just three sets combined in their three victories over Bethany Lutheran.
The Royals will now enter the off-season looking forward to their first match of the spring season on February 8th at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn.
“Our guys are very committed to working hard in the weight room and to keep playing this off-season in order to get better,” explained coach Fernelius. “We are looking forward to a successful spring.”
