OWATONNA, Minn. – The Bethel University women's tennis team fell on the road 9-0 to St. Olaf College in their first MIAC match of the season. The Royals played close matches at all three doubles spots and at the final three singles slots but were unable to get any victories.

"I am proud of the girls," said head coach Drew Fernelius. "We played really solid and competed hard, St. Olaf is just a very talented team and was too strong at the top. We could have won at 4-5-6 as all were close matches, but missing (normal No. 4 singles player) Abby Kreklau with an ankle injury hurts."

Bethel was unable to generate any momentum in the doubles matches as they fell in three tight matches, 8-5 at No. 1, 8-6 at No. 2, and 8-4 at No. 3. Heading into singles matches the Royals top three singles players, Abby Edin, Kristin Vivian and Amanda Johnson lost in straight sets. The bottom of the Royals lineup however, put up a tough fight against the Oles. At No. 4 singles Larissa Voss, playing in her hometown of Owatonna, played a thrilling two hour and forty-five minute match. Voss was ahead in both sets but ended up falling 7-6 (7-5), 7-5. At No. 5 singles Kourtney Jakubic lost her first set 6-0 and fell behind 3-0 in the second set, but rallied to come back and win the second set 7-5 but lost the super tie-break 10-8. Freshman Sarah Wallace, playing at No. 6 singles, played a very good first set but fell 7-5 and dropped the second set 6-1.

"Doubles was the key," coach Fernelius said. "We needed to get a point or two there to have a chance and were close in all three but just couldn't get over the hump and thus didn't have any momentum going into singles matches."

Bethel falls to 1-2 and 0-1 in the MIAC on the season. Bethel's next match will come next Saturday against the University of St. Thomas at 2 p.m.