EAU CLAIRE, Wis.—The Bethel University men's tennis team fell in heartbreaking fashion Friday night to the Blugolds of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire by a score of 5-4.  The Blugolds are ranked 18^th in the region coming into the match, as Bethel came in with an impressive 5-1 record.  After the Royals started the night by winning two of three doubles, Eau Claire came back, winning four of six close singles matches. 
 
"The guys gave one hundred percent," Coach Fernelius said.  "Just came up a millimeter short."
 
Bethel's No. 3 doubles pair of Jakob Bartels and Henry Morris dropped the first match of the night by a score of 8-3.  The Royals came back after that first loss, winning at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.  At No. 1 doubles, Matt Schull and Hunter Fernelius played a tight match before prevailing in a tiebreaker 9-8(4).  Kolin Kiekhoefer and Noah Ridgway also had an exciting match, as they beat their opponents 8-3. 

Going into singles with a 2-1 lead, Bethel was just inches from closing out a victory but fell just a few points short.  No. 2 singles, Kolin Kiekhoefer, and No. 3 singles Hunter Fernelius, were the only victories in singles.  Kiekhoefer won 6-4 and 6-3.  Fernelius followed in similar fashion, winning comfortably by scores of 6-3, 6-2.  The Royals kept it close with both No.1 singles, Matt Schull, and No. 5 singles, Noah Ridgway, losing in third set tiebreakers. Ridgway lost 2-6, 6-2, 3-10, while Schull lost the first set tiebreaker 6-7(5) before coming back to win the second set 6-2.  He fell in a close third set tiebreaker 7-10.     
 
"It was a really good trip for us, I'm proud of the boys," Coach Fernelius said.  "Hopefully we can rebound this week."
 
The Royals will look to get back on track next Sunday afternoon against Carleton College at 3:30 p.m.  The match will be hosted at the Lifetime Fitness in Lakeville, Minn.