MINNEAPOLIS – The Bethel University women's tennis team returned to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday and lost a tough match at the hands of the College of Saint Benedict, 6-3. The Royals were able to win three of the six singles matches but lost all three matches in doubles play to fall to the Blazers.

"The girls played really well, probably our best match of the year," said Royals head coach Drew Fernelius. "They are really disappointed and we are trying to keep them from being discouraged. We had some chances to get what would have been a huge win."

Bethel found themselves in the early hole after losing the three doubles matches by scores of 8-6 (No. 1), 8-5 (No. 2) and 8-3 (No. 3). Bethel came very close to winning at No. 1 doubles as Abby Edin and Kristin Vivian were ahead 6-5 but were unable to close out the match. The Royals gave a strong showing in the singles matches however, as Edin at No. 1 singles, Vivian at No. 2 singles and Kourtney Jakubic at No. 5 singles all came out on top. Edin won her match by a score of 6-2, 6-4 while Vivian won a tough two-set match 7-5, 6-3. Jakubic controlled her match by a 6-2, 6-2 score. Larissa Voss lost a heartbreaker at No. 6 singles by a score of 7-5, 6-4.

"Abby played two really good sets to win her match and Kristin came back from being down 2-5 in the first set to win as she played a fabulous long match and battled right until the end," coach Fernelius said. "Kourtney Jakubic just continues to roll and get better as she really isn't playing like a freshman anymore and has become one of the rock solid spots in our lineup."

The loss drops Bethel to 0-5 in MIAC play as they have faced four of the top five teams in the MIAC standings. The Royals will take the court again next Saturday in Winona, Minn., against the Saint Mary's University Cardinals at 1 p.m.