ResultsThe Bethel University women's tennis team capped off an impressive fall season with a pair of victories over the past weekend in matches played in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The Royals defeated UW-Stevens Point 8-1 and Lawrence University 7-2. This came on the heels of a successful showing in the MIAC kickoff weekend the week prior against Hamline, St. Kate's and Macalester.
"I couldn't be prouder of the way our ladies came out to play," said Royals head coach
Drew Fernelius. "We are an extremely young team, having lost four of our top six from last year including our top three in the lineup and without a senior on the roster. But we came out and took it to both of them."
The Royals swept all six doubles matches and won five of the six singles matches against UW-Stevens Point and four of six against Lawrence. Last season, Bethel defeated UW-Stevens Point just 5-4 while Lawrence was coming off a victory over UW-Oshkosh the previous week, a team that defeated Bethel 8-1 last season. The Royals depth really showed in both matches as the No. 3-6 singles players lost just nine games in the four matches against UW-Stevens Point and won all four matches in straight sets against Lawrence.
The Royals singles lineup consisted of
Mattie Kidder at the top, who had a three set victory in her first match at No. 1 singles over a solid opponent from UW-Stevens Point.
Anna Browning played at No. 2 singles and Sami Hindt played No. 3 singles. All three players showed they are up for the challenge of playing much higher in the lineup this season. Talented freshman Sydney Parkinson (Lakeville North) and Jill Weinzettel (Hastings, Minn.) were dominant in their No. 4 and No. 5 slots.
Sarah Wallace won both of her matches at No. 6 singles handily.
"A ton of credit has to go to
Sarah Wallace who after a year of battling mono and not getting to play much last year has risen to the challenge of captaining our young team," explained coach Fernelius. "Sarah has shown a great deal of leadership and we are so lucky to have her as well as our other captain Maddy Simpson, who is gone this semester in New York but will be back in the spring, not only playing great tennis and winning both of her matches at No. 6 singles but really helping to create such a positive environment that makes every day so much fun to be on the court."
The Royals depth even showed through in the exhibition matches as
Emily Bauer, who also played in the lineup at No. 3 doubles, Christian Weaver and Rachel Eisenrich did not drop a singles match or set in their exhibition singles and doubles matches.
"Again, I couldn't be more excited with commitment that our ladies have shown here early on," the fourth-year head coach Fernelius said. "I know that it will increase the expectation levels that coach Ronning and I have for our team starting in January. We have a talented group of ladies that want to get better and really love each other. I believe that that is the formula for a successful season. We can't wait!"
The Royals first match of the spring season will take place on February 6th in Owatonna, Minnesota against both Northwestern (Iowa) and Bethany Lutheran (Minn.).
