Results

DULUTH, Minn. – The Bethel University women's tennis team opened up the 2013 season in style with a big win on the road over the College of St. Scholastica 6-3. The Royals were led by Steph Brown and Kayla Wheeler who were both victorious in at No. 2 and No. 5 singles and in No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.
 
“We really showed today that we were ready,” Drew Fernelius said after his first match as Royals head coach. “Our depth really showed and I was proud of how they performed after a long drive and against a tough opponent.”
 
St. Scholastica is the preseason favorite to win their 17th consecutive Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) title and have never lost a UMAC match but the Royals depth and perseverance proved to be too much for the Saints. The Royals started to gather momentum after the No. 2 doubles team of Brown and Kristin Vivian staved off four match points and came out on top 9-8 (7-5). Kayla Wheeler and Abby Kreklau won at No. 3 doubles, 8-5 to put the Royals on top. Abby Edin, playing her first matches since the 2011 season, lost at No. 1 singles 6-2, 6-3 but both Lisa Scheevel and Brown won at No. 2 and No. 3 to bring the Royals to the brink of victory. Scheevel lost her first set 5-7 before rebounding to win the second set in convincing fashion 6-0 and the tie break 10-8.  Brown won both of her sets by two, 6-4 and 7-5. Brown's doubles partner, Kristin Vivian was unable to keep the Royals streak going at No. 4 singles falling 6-1, 6-2. Wheeler and Amanda Johnson both won a pair of dramatic matches to clinch the victory for the Royals. Johnson, like Brown, lost the first set 5-7 but came back to win the second set 6-1 and the tie break 10-4.
 
The Royals will return to action next Friday when they travel to take on NCAA Division II opponent St. Cloud State.