BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Senior Grace Riermann was selected as the 2022 MIAC Chris Evert Award winner becoming the first women's tennis player in Bethel women's tennis history to receive the prestigious award. The award annually recognizes a senior women's tennis student-athlete who exhibits outstanding sportsmanship and exemplary athletic, academic, and humanitarian accomplishments.
 
Along with Riermann, Sydney Rott, Emma Thole and Rylee Schurman all earned All-MIAC accolades.
 
Riermann, a navtive of Stillwater, Minn. accumulated a singles record of 64-8 to go along with a mark of 68-11 in doubles play during her Royal career. She won one ITA singles championship and a pair of doubles titles in addition to being named All-MIAC eight times during her four years on the court at Bethel. She is a five-time NCAA All-American and reached the national outrounds at last year's NCAA Tournament, making the quarterfinals in singles play and the semifinals in doubles at the national championships.

"Grace is the best tennis player to ever play at Bethel University," Bethel head coach Drew Fernelius said. "As amazing as her accomplishments are, she is an even better person."

Riermann will graduate this spring with a 4.00 GPA, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and a B.A. in Physics. Post-graduation, she will be working as a mechanical engineer for a medical device design company.

"In so many ways, the hard work ethic that I have learned from repeatedly working my way up through the world of tennis has given me the drive to use my degrees, knowledge, and experience to make a career of helping other people," Riermann said. "Designing medical devices feels, to me, like a fulfillment of this calling and a direct way of serving those who are hurting and sick."

Being named to the All-MIAC Singles team, Riermann went 20-1 on the year and 9-1 against MIAC opponents. Her lone loss came in three sets against St. Kate's Kelsey Dorr. She departs as a three-time honoree.

Rott, who played as the Royals' No. 2 singles player, earns the honor for the first time in her career. The senior from Sioux Falls, S.D. posted a 14-6 record and went 6-4 in MIAC play.

As Bethel's top duo, Riermann and Rott were named to the All-MIAC doubles squad where Grace is now a three-time honoree and Sydney a two-time awardee. They went 20-2 overall and were 9-1 in MIAC where they won in mostly convincing fashion.

Freshman Emma Thole starts her BU career strong being named to the MIAC All-Singles Team. She picked up stride in the middle of the season which including a seven-match winning streak. Working her way up in the lineup she started at No. 5 before settling in as the No. 4 player where she was 6-4 this year. Against MIAC opponents she was 8-2.

Thole and her doubles partner Rylee Schurman were named to the Doubles Honorable Mention Team. They were 10-10 on the year and 5-5 against conference opponents playing all matches as the No. 2 team.

As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the 15th annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for women's tennis. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition, Schurman was selected to represent the Royals.