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ST. PETER, Minn. - The Bethel University women's tennis team competed at the ITA Midwest Regional hosted at Gustavus Adolphus College over the weekend and the Royals gave an incredible showing all around, which was highlighted by the doubles championship won by Maggie and Grace Riermann. The championship for the Riermann sisters is the first ever for Bethel and makes them All-Americans with the opportunity to compete in the ITA Cup on Oct. 11-14 at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College in Rome, Ga. The ITA Cup features eight regional champions competing for the national title. The Riermann's were not the only ones to give great performances over the weekend in doubles and singles as multiple Royals won several matches in individual play, including Maggie and Grace.

In singles, Maggie Riermann was the highest seeded Royal at No. 7. The sophomore won her first three matches before falling in the quarterfinals to the No. 1 overall seed from UW-Whitewater in a great match, 3-6, 4-6. Also winning her first three matches was Jill Weinzettel who played an outstanding tournament. The senior from Hastings, Minnesota beat the No. 1 player from Coe College (Iowa), who is regionally ranked, in the third round coming from a set down to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Weinzettel lost in the round of 16 to the eventual tournament champion, Ginger Valentine from Gustavus. Mackenzie Novak was seeded No. 17 in the tournament and received a bye in the first round before winning her first two matches in dominant fashion, 6-3, 6-2 and 6-1, 6-1. Novak lost in the third round to the No. 1 player from Carleton and the No. 4 overall seed in a great match. The sophomore saved three match points and had a couple of set points herself, before falling 7-9 in the second set tiebreak. Freshman Sydney Rott won her first match over Cornell College's (Iowa) top player, a former high school state doubles champion in Utah, before losing in the second round to the No. 5 seed (who was then defeated by Weinzettel in the third round). Another Bethel freshman, Taylor Kopfer, lost in the first round before winning her first consolation round. She then fell in the second consolation round.

The last singles competitor for Bethel in the ITA Draw was freshman Grace Riermann who made it all the way to the semifinals, winning four matches after a first round bye to win the bottom quarter of the bracket. Along the way Riermann defeated Grinnel College's (Iowa) top player and the No. 7 overall seed in the round of 16. Then she knocked off the defending ITA champion, No. 2 overall seed and Gustavus' No. 1 singles player, Briana Hartmann 6-3, 6-4. Riermann then engaged in a legendary, four and a half hour match in the semifinals with Ali Kopiecki of Hamline, losing 6-7 (7-9), 5-7. 

The fact that the Riermann sisters made such deep runs in singles play, spending a combined 15 hours on the court on Sunday alone, made their doubles championship even more improbable and impressive. 

"After singles play, there are no words to describe or even explain how they were able to rebound and win the doubles championship to become Bethel's first ever National Qualifiers and All-Americans," said an ecstatic head coach Drew Fernelius.

The Riermann's defeated a team from UW-Whitewater 8-3 in the first round before taking out a Gustavus team in the second round that included individual ITA champion Ginger Valentine by another impressive 8-3 score. The sisters then beat a UW-Eau Claire tandem 8-5 in the quarterfinals before taking down another Gustavus team in the semifinals, 8-4. The championship matchup came against Kristina Conrad and Madeline Prins from Carleton as the Knights would take the first set 3-6. The Riermann's somehow found the energy needed to rebound and win the second set 6-4 and then the super tie breaker 10-6 to claim the championship.     

Mackenzie Novak and Jill Weinzettel also competed in the doubles portion of the ITA Draw, giving a strong showing as well. The pair won their first two matches before falling in the quarterfinals to a UW-Eau Claire team. 

Competing for Bethel in the open Midwest Draw was Meghan Schuler, Mattie Lubben, Kally Peterson and Rachel West. Schuler won her first two matches before falling in the third round. Mattie Lubben worked her way all the way back in the consolation round before losing in the finals while Kally Peterson lost in the consolation semifinals. Rachel West lost her first two matches.

"I am so proud of our entire team for the way they battled every match and supported and encouraged each other," said coach Fernelius. "The love that they have for each other is inspiring and what the real treasure of Bethel tennis is all about!"