WHITEWATER, Wis. – This past weekend the Bethel University women's tennis team competed in the annual ITA Tournament. Four of the players competed in Whitewater, Wis. at the Midwest Regional, while the other five players were at Gustavus Adolphus College playing at the Alternative ITA Tournament. 
 
The biggest story of the weekend: sophomore Lauryn Douglas winning the singles final. She joins six-time All-American Grace Riermann as the second woman in Bethel tennis history to win the singles draw. 

Seeded 19th in the singles draw, Douglas received a bye in the Round of 128 before defeating her next two opponents in straight sets. She then faced a close match against the seconded seeded Ashley Tarrolly, from Saint Ben's, winning the first set 6-2, losing the second 3-6, and winning in a third set tiebreak 10-5. She defeated sixth seeded Molly Austin of Gustavus in the quarters and seventh seeded Ioanna Giannakou from Grinnell, both matches being clinched in straight sets.

Facing off against 10th-seeded Irene Agusti of Grinnell in the finals, she was able to maintain her focus from the start pulling out a tight first set that reached a tiebreaker, 7-6 (3). She went on to cruise through the second 6-1 for the straight-set title. 
 
"I worked as hard as I could this summer and came into the tournament believing I could do well and tried to just take it one match at a time. Probably hasn't completely sunk in that I won the tournament, but it sure feels great," Douglas said.
 
Head coach Drew Fernelius commented on her incredible match saying, "I couldn't be more proud. [It is] such a testament to hard work and dedication. Lauryn put in the work when nobody was watching and this weekend showed it on the court!"
 
With her win in the Semifinals, Douglas gained a spot in the National ITA Tournament in Rome, Georgia and her incredible victory in the finals earned her the title of All-American.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEKEND
• Freshman Michaella Sullivan made the singles quarterfinals as a freshman unseeded
• Captain and junior Emma Thole won 5 matches and finished as Consolation runner up
• Sophomore Julia Baber made reached the Round of 32 in singles and quarters with Douglas in doubles before losing to the number two-seeded and defending champs from St. Catherine (defending champions from 2022)
• Newcomer Courtney Nuest won three of her four matches (one singles, three doubles) at her first ever ITAs
• Sophomore Bailey Albrightson was one of two Bethel players to win her singles match in straight sets
• Sophomore Bryna Eigenfeld and Nuest won two of their three doubles matches 6-3
 

ITA Tournament @ Whitewater
	Singles Draw	Doubles Draw
Round of 128	Lauryn Douglas (19): BYE Julia Baber (23): BYE Emma Thole: 6-1, 6-3 Michaella Sullivan: 6-3, 6-0
Round of 64	Lauryn Douglas (19): 6-2, 6-1 Julia Baber (23): 6-3, 6-2 Emma Thole: LOST 5-7. 1-6 Michaella Sullivan: 1-6, 7-5, 10-8	Baber/Douglas (5): BYE Thole/Sullivan: 8-4
Round of 32	Lauryn Douglas (19): 6-1, 7-6(8) (against 12th seed) Julia Baber (23): LOST 3-6, 2-6 (against 15th seed) Michaella Sullivan: 6-2, 6-2	Baber/Douglas (5): 8-4 Thole/Sullivan: LOST 3-8
Round of 16	Lauryn Douglas (19): 6-2, 3-6, 10-5 (against 2nd seed) Michaella Sullivan: 6-3, 6-1 (against 26th seed)	Baber/Douglas (5): 8-4 (against 10th seed)
Quarter Finals	Lauryn Douglas (19): 6-0, 7-5 (against 6th seed) Michaella Sullivan: LOST 3-6, 0-6 (against 14th seed)	Baber/Douglas (5): LOST 4-8 (against 2nd seed, defending champions)
Semi Finals	Lauryn Douglas (19): 6-3, 6-1 (against 7th seed)
Finals	Lauryn Douglas (19): 7-6(3), 6-1 (against 10th seed)

 

Alternative ITA Tournament @ Gustavus
	Singles Draw	Doubles Draw
Courtney Nuest	WON 6-2, 6-2	Nuest/Eigenfeld: First round: WON 6-3 Second Round: LOST 6-7 Third Round: WON 6-3
Bryna Eigenfeld	LOST 1-6, 5-7	Nuest/Eigenfeld First round: WON 6-3 Second Round: LOST 6-7 Third Round: WON 6-3
Bailey Albrightson	WON 6-4, 6-2	Albrightson/Hillstrom: WON 6-4 Albrightson/Robinson: LOST 3-6
Skylar Robinson	LOST 1-6, 1-6	Albrightson/Robinson: LOST 3-6 Robinson/Hillstrom: LOST 3-6
Annika Hillstrom	LOST 2-6, 3-6	Albrightson/Hillstrom: WON 6-4 Robinson/Hillstrom: LOST 3-6