ROGERS, Minn. – It took just over five hours to determine a winner, unfortunately it was the Bethel University women's tennis team that came out on the losing end falling 5-4 to Wisconsin-La Crosse.
It came down to the No. 5 singles match where
Emma Thole forced a super tiebreaker recovering from down 1-5 in the second set winning the next six games. She would eventually drop the tiebreaker 10-4.
The Royals went into singles play down 2-1 as
Grace Riermann and
Sydney Rott picked up the lone doubles' point while remaining perfect on the year.
In a top-50 nationally ranked matched at No. 1 singles, #44 Riermann rolled to a 6-2, 6-1 result over previous unbeaten and #26 Kimberly Steinert. Rierman improved to 7-0 on the year.
At No. 2 singles, Rott battle back after dropping the opening set 2-6. She won the second set 6-2 forcing a super tiebreaker where she edged out UWL's Kellie Hierl 12-10.
Elise Bierbaum picked up BU's third singles point in straight sets. She took the first set in a tiebreaker before taking the second set 6-4.
Bethel drops to 4-3 on the year and will have the next week off before kicking off its five-match spring break trip in Orlando, Fla. at the USTA National Tennis Center. BU opens up with North Central College on Sunday, March 13.
UW-La Crosse 5, Bethel (MN) 4
Rankings listed as #National/Regional
Singles competition
1. #44/12
Grace Riermann (BUW) def. #26/7 Kimberly Steinert (UWL) 6-2, 6-1
2.
Sydney Rott (BUW) def. Kellie Hierl (UWL) 2-6, 6-2, 12-10
3.
Elise Bierbaum (BUW) def. Hannah Riegle (UWL) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
4. Morgan Graf (UWL) def.
Rylee Schurman (BUW) 6-2, 6-3
5. Kaitlyn Kalinka (UWL) def.
Emma Thole (BUW) 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 10-4
6. Susi Hu (UWL) def.
Macy Voss (BUW) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. # -/7
Grace Riermann/
Sydney Rott (BUW) def. Kellie Hierl/Kimberly Steinert (UWL) 8-4
2. Hannah Riegle/Morgan Graf (UWL) def.
Rylee Schurman/
Emma Thole (BUW) 8-3
3. Kaitlyn Kalinka/Katie Kearney (UWL) def.
Elise Bierbaum/
Makaylah Legel (BUW) 8-2
