BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – It came down to three singles matches that entered a third set. Wins by senior
Hunter Fernelius and junior
Nick Knudsen gave the fifth-seeded Bethel University men's tennis team a 5-3 MIAC Playoff quarterfinal win over fourth-seeded Macalester Tuesday evening indoors at Lifetime Fitness.
Bethel became the first five seed to advance in the tournament since the 2013 season with the victory. Now 12-9 on the year the Royals will head to top-seeded and nationally ranked Gustavus for the semifinals on Thursday, May 2 at 3:30 p.m.
"I really wish I could come up with the right words to articulate how proud of the guys I was today," said Head Coach
Drew Fernelius. "We talk about leaving it all out there and playing for each other and today they did that and then some. The guys just refused to give in and kept fighting for each other until the very end against a very talented, regionally ranked and motivated Macalester team. It was without question a match that none of us will-soon forget and we are grateful for the experience."
Fernelius and freshman
Jason Reilly came out strong with an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles. Knudsen and sophomore
Joey Mueller gave Bethel a 2-1 lead taking the No. 3 doubles match 8-4.
Freshman
Erik Beckers made quick work at No. 3 singles never trailing to take it 6-3, 6-1.
Macalester tied it up at 3-3 with wins at the No. 2 and No. 6 singles matches.
Fernelius had beaten Sam Hochberger once in his career and that win came just a few weeks ago. Today that rematch was just as intense. Fernelius broke Hochberger's serve to take the opening set 6-4 before dropping the second 3-6. Fernelius was down 0-2 in the third before recording an ace to tie it up at 3-3. He fell down 3-5 before making a dramatic comeback to take a 6-5 lead. With the serve, Hunter rattled off three straight points before a service ace gave him the three set thriller to make it 4-3 Bethel.
Knudsen rolled to a 6-2 win in the first set. He went up 4-3 in the second before fatigue set in and the Scots Peter Willenborg rallied back to take the second 4-6. There was no quit in Knudsen who broke Willenborg's serve to open the third. The Scots No. 5 singles player pulled within 5-4 before Knudsen came way winning a long rally giving the Royals the victory.
Reilly at No. 4 was also in an exciting third set at the same time as Fernelius and Knudsen. Already battling injury, he showed his grit taking the opening set 7-6 after winning the tiebreaker 10-4. The second set was just as close where he fell 5-7 forcing a third set. Reilly was up 5-2 before the match went unfinished after Knudsen sealed the Royals fifth team point.
