Box ScoreROSEVILLE, Minn. – The Bethel University men's tennis team turned in a dominant performance in a 9-0 victory on an extremely windy day at the University of Northwestern. The Royals won all six singles matches in straight sets after sweeping the doubles matches on a warm, early spring day that saw winds gusting over 30 mph. It was the first outdoor match in Minnesota for the Bethel men.
"It was sure a challenge playing tennis in that wind today," said Royals coach
Drew Fernelius. "I was really proud of the way the guys came out and took care of business."
In doubles play the Royals won at the No. 1 slot by an 8-5 score as
Matt Schull and
Luke Palmquist improved to 5-5 together on the year at No. 1 doubles.
Jakob Bartels and
Brett Lizotte continued their stellar play at No. 2 doubles with an 8-6 victory to improve to 5-1 together. At No. 3 doubles
Kolin Kiekhoefer and
Kent Schaller played together for the first time on the season and rolled to an 8-1 victory.
The Royals were especially dominant in singles play as UNW only tallied 17 points in the six singles matches. Schull won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 and Kiekhoefer won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 to get things rolling for Bethel.
Luke Palmquist returned to the lineup at No. 3 singles and was victorious 6-2, 6-1.
Jakob Bartels improved to 10-6 on the season with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles.
Blake Watts and
Brett Lizotte rounded out the Bethel singles lineup with 6-1, 6-2 and 6-2, 6-0 victories respectively at No. 5 and No. 6 singles.
The Royals will take the Easter weekend off and are not in action again until the following Saturday, April 11th at Saint John's University. The MIAC match will begin at 2 p.m. in Collegeville, Minnesota.
