Results

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Bethel University men's tennis team took on Macalester College in a pivotal MIAC tennis match Wednesday night inside the Bloomington Lifetime Fitness, and fell 6-3 to the Scots. The Royals fell in two of the three doubles matches and were only able to pull out two singles victories as the Scots took a must win match over the Royals. Bethel remains in a tie for fourth place in the MIAC standings while Macalester was able to move into the sixth spot, with the top six making the MIAC playoffs.

"Our guys actually played pretty good," said Royals head coach Drew Fernelius. "Macalester had their backs against the wall and they came out fighting like we knew they would. We had our chances but they were just the better team tonight."

The match started out with three thrilling doubles matches, in what coach Fernelius described as the best doubles matchups of the season. Bethel lost a back and forth match at No. 1 doubles 8-5, but came out on top at No. 3 doubles in another exciting match 8-6, to pull even. The No. 2 doubles match was led by the Royals most of the way until MAC tied it up at 7-7 and went on to win a tie-breaker to take the 9-8 (4) decision.

The Fighting Scots used the momentum from the doubles victory and won straight set victories at No. 2, No. 4 and No. 6 singles to take the five needed points for the win. Bethel won a pair of straight set matches at No. 3 and No. 5 singles. Freshman Kolin Kiekhoefer played an outstanding match and won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3 while senior Steve Schull won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5. Freshman Matt Schull lost for just the fifth time this season at No. 1 singles, dropping a heartbreaker 6-4, 2-6, (10-4).

The Royals still control their own destiny in the MIAC playoff hunt as they sit in a tie for fourth place with St. Olaf and two matches remaining with Hamline (1-5) and Concordia (0-6). Bethel will travel to Hamline next Thursday and host Concordia next Saturday.