WINONA, Minn. – The Bethel University women's tennis team won their seventh match in a row on Saturday as they defeated Saint Mary's University 8-1.  The Royals are now 14-2 on the season and will play six of their seven remaining matches within the conference as they look to clinch a playoff berth.

"The ladies started out the morning with a great win over the Cardinals. It's never easy to win on the road in this conference and that was a very solid performance by our squad," said head coach Drew Fernelius.

The Royals notched their first point of the day in the No. 3 doubles match with a convincing 8-2 victory behind the play of Madeline Simpson and Samantha Hindt. The other two doubles matches were both deadlocked at 6-6 but the Royals were able to finish off the last two games in each match to secure all three points.

Freshman Sydney Parkinson continued an impressive start to her career at Bethel with a 6-2, 7-5 win in the No. 1 singles match and her teammates contributed four more straight-set victories to capture the 8-1 triumph for the Royals. After coming all the way back from a 2-6 deficit in her doubles match with teammate Anna Browning, Mattie Kidder responded with a convincing win in the No. 2 singles match to finish off the day for the Royals.

Bethel will attempt to extend their winning streak next Saturday as they take on the University of St. Thomas on their home court. The match is slated for 12 p.m. at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex.