SAINT CLOUD, Minn. – The Bethel University women's tennis team picked up a crucial MIAC victory Friday afternoon against the College of Saint Benedict, 5-4. The Royals traveled to Saint Cloud, Minn., to take on the Blazers, who were picked two spots ahead of the Royals in the MIAC preseason poll and pulled out a tight victory. The Royals were able to hold a 2-1 advantage in doubles play while splitting the singles matches, most of which were very tightly contested.
Abby Edin,
Lisa Scheevel and
Amanda Johnson were all victorious in singles play at the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 slots.
“We are very pumped to win today,” said Royals head coach
Drew Fernelius. “The girls are really excited and it was a very big win to beat a team that was predicted to make the playoffs this season. We had a lot of close matches all around that could have gone either way.”
An 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles by
Abby Edin and
Lisa Scheevel started the Royals out on the right foot and No. 3 doubles team,
Kayla Wheeler and
Abby Kreklau were victorious 8-3.
Steph Brown and
Kristin Vivian fell 5-8 at No. 2 doubles.
“The first doubles match today was huge,” Fernelius explained. “It was a tight match and a big one for us to go into singles play with a 2-1 lead.”
Abby Edin kept her momentum rolling into her No. 1 singles match as she came away with a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Scheevel also came away with her second win of the day at No. 2 singles. After dropping the first set 3-6, she battled back for a 6-4 second set win and won a third set tie-break 10-7 to seel the win for the Royals.
Amanda Johnson rolled at No. 6 singles, winning 6-2, 6-2.
Kayla Wheeler dropped a very close match at No. 5 singles, 7-6 (11-5), 3-6, (1-10).
The Royals will now depart for Orlando, Florida for their annual spring break trip to play five matches Monday through Friday.
“We are pumped to leave for Orlando and it was great to see the girls really focus tonight when their minds can be thinking about the Florida sun,” Fernelius said. “But, they really dug in and came through.”
