[Results]   [Royal Perspective with Edin and Scheevel]   [Coaches Corner with Coach Fernelius]


MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Bethel University women's tennis team earned a spot in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs for the first time in program history by defeating Concordia College 9-0 Saturday afternoon. The Royals finished in sixth place in the MIAC standings, earning a date with third seeded Gustavus Friday afternoon. The win over Concordia marked the second straight match in as many days where the Royals did not drop a single set in their 9-0 victory.

Bethel swept through the doubles competition with an 8-3 win by Abby Edin and Lisa Scheevel at No. 1 doubles, a 8-4 win by Steph Brown and Kristin Vivian at No. 2 doubles and an 8-1 win at No. 3 doubles by Kayla Wheeler and Abby Kreklau. Edin/Scheevel and Wheeler/Kreklau both finished the MIAC regular season with 6-4 records in conference play, winning their last four matches.

Kayla Wheeler also won her fourth straight match in singles play, 6-2, 6-0 to improve to 7-3 against MIAC opponents at No. 5 singles. For the season Wheeler finished with a team best overall record of 12-4 at singles, and 11-6 in doubles.  Amanda Johnson, playing at No. 6 singles, proved the Royals depth once again with a 6-0, 6-0, victory to improve her record to 4-4 in MIAC play. Lisa Scheevel was nearly flawless at No. 2 singles, winning 6-1, 6-0. Scheevel joined Wheeler and Johnson with a .500 or better record in MIAC singles play, finishing 5-5.
Abby Edin rolled at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-3. Kristin Vivian won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3 singles and senior Steph Brown won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4 singles.

The Royals will travel to St. Peter, Minn., Friday to take on the tournament host Golden Gusties, who have won 26 of the 31 MIAC women's tennis titles. The Gusties had their streak of 20 consecutive titles broken by Carleton last season. The Knights from Carleton enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed behind league champion St. Catherine University who finished undefeated in MIAC play. Bethel entered the season picked to finish 8th in the standings and improved upon that by two spots to earn their first playoff appearance under the direction of first year coach Drew Fernelius.