FRIDLEY, Minn. – The Bethel University men's tennis team opened their season with a solid 8-1 victory over the Milwaukee School of Engineering Friday night at the Lifetime Fitness in Fridley. The Royals used dominant singles play, especially from No. 1 through No. 3 in their lineup, to pull away from the Raiders - the defending Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) champions.
The Royals No. 1 doubles team of
Matt Schull and
Luke Palmquist cruised to a 8-1 victory to give Bethel the first point of the night. The No. 2 doubles team of
Kolin Kiekhoefer and Jakob Bartels lost 8-4 but No. 3 doubles team
Brett Lizotte and
Kent Schaller pulled off a big comeback win to give the Royals a big boost of momentum for singles play. Lizotte and Schaller found themselves down 5-7 and eventually faced four match points but were able to come back and take the 9-7 victory.
In singles play the top of the Bethel lineup won quickly and easily, playing outstanding tennis as noted by head coach
Drew Fernelius.
"Schull, Kiekhoefer and Palmquist really played great tennis and showed how strong they are at the top of our lineup," Fernelius said.
Schull won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1, Kiekhoefer won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2, and Palmquist won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3. The bottom half of the Royals lineup also won each match but in much closer fashion. No. 4 singles player, freshman Jakob Bartels, lost the first set 4-6 but rebounded to take the second set 6-4. He then won the tie-break 10-8, finishing the match off with an ace.
Kent Schaller won his match at No. 5 singles 7-6 (7-4), 7-5. Freshman
Blake Watts won a tight first set 7-5 and then rolled to a 6-2 second set victory.
"Overall it was a good win to start the season against a good opponent," coach Fernelius said. "Obviously we've got a lot to get done and improve on as it is just going to get much tougher from here. We will get back to work on Monday."
Bethel will be back in action next Saturday as they open up MIAC play on the road at Concordia College. The match will take place at Courts Plus in Fargo, North Dakota at 2 p.m.
