ST. PETER—The Bethel University's women's tennis team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Gustavus Adolphus College in the MIAC semifinals on Thursday. The Royals (15-6), who put together one of their most competitive seasons in program history, gave the top-ranked Gusties (16-7) a run for their money, but fell in the end by a final score of 5-0.
 
BU, who dropped the regular season finale to GAC by a final score of 2-7, was neck-in-neck with the Gusties throughout all three doubles matches. The Royals' No. 2 doubles team of Mackenzie Novak and Jill Weinzettel snagged a win last week, but their magic ran out Thursday, falling 7-9. Moreover, Sami Hindt and Mattie Lubben had a chance to give Bethel a point at No. 3 doubles, but lost in a tie-breaker 8-9 and No. 1 combo Maggie Riermann and Mattie Kidder dropped their match 5-8.
 
Despite trailing 0-3 after doubles, Bethel attempted to muster a miracle in singles play. Jill Weinzettel lost the opening set at No. 3 singles 5-7 and both Mackenzie Novak and Sami Hindt were close in their second set at No. 2 and 5 singles, but Riermann fell at No. 1 singles 6-3, 6-0 and Kidder at No. 4 singles 6-4, 6-0, which ended the match before the final tally could play itself out.