ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Mother Nature was finally on the Royals side as the Bethel University men's tennis team battled its way to a 5-4 victory over Macalester Monday evening at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex.
The win puts the Royals over the .500 mark at 10-9 on the year and 5-3 in MIAC play. The win moves the Royals to third in the standings as well as being in great position to qualify for the MIAC playoffs. BU closes out the regular season on Sunday, April 28 against Hamline University at home with a 3:30 p.m. start time.
Bethel jumped out to a solid lead taking all three doubles matches.
Erik Beckers and
Zach Kantor had the big win at No. 2 doubles fighting until the end to pick up an 8-7 victory.
The Scots didn't go down without a fight though in singles play. An injury to
Jason Reilly forced him to retire in the opening set before the Scots took the No. 2 and 6 singles matches to tie it up. Beckers came away with a win at No. 3 6-0, 6-4 before
Hunter Fernelius took the top singles match to capture the win. Fernelius took the opening set 6-3 over Sam Hochberger. In the second set, he trailed 4-5 before breaking Hochberger's severe and taking the set 7-5.
