FRIDLEY, Minn. – Though they hoped the weather would have warmed up enough by now to play on their outdoor courts, Bethel had to settle again for competing against Saint Mary's University at an indoor facility nearby this weekend. Despite the fact that the Royals did fall to the Cardinals 4-5, it was a hard-fought match, and the closest conference competition results they've seen this year.

In doubles, Bethel won two out of three matches. Ashley Dohlen (Jr., Morris, Minn.) and Heather Blair (Jr., Glenwood, Minn.) along with Krista Nauman (Fr., Buffalo, Minn.) and Stefanie Erlander (Excelsior, Minn.), each defeated their opponents with scores of 8-6 and 8-2, respectively.

The singles competition against Saint Mary's saw many close matches. Nauman stretched her match into a third set, though she ultimately fell, 2-6, 7-5, 6-10. Dohlen went two for two on the day's contests as she landed at a 7-5, 6-1 victory. But it was LeRoyce Chapman (Sr., Elk River, Minn.) who stole the show in singles, playing the number two spot and pulling out a win. The match consisted of more than its share of long rallies and close points. Chapman seemed to return everything her opponent hit at her with striking accuracy, and as the contest progressed, the Cardinal competitor's frustration with Chapman's consistent winners only increased. To the delight of Chapman and her teammates, she finished with a score of 6-3, 6-4.

With the loss, the Royals drop to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the MIAC, while the Cardinals are lifted to 2-5 in conference and 4-7 overall. Weather permitting, Bethel is next scheduled to take on Macalester on April 14, at 4:30 p.m. at the Ona Orth Complex across the street from campus.