OWATONNA, Minn. – The Bethel men's tennis team saw its 2024 season come to an end following a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to St. Olaf Friday evening. A young Royals squad – that saw five freshmen and two sophomores in the starting lineup – finish the year 11-9 overall and 4-5 in MIAC play.
Bethel took a 2-1 lead after doubles, including a couple of tight tiebreaks. They then had a couple of opportunities in singles to take the match, with No. 1 and No. 6 singles going into third set tiebreakers. But it would be the Oles who pulled both of those out.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Sophomore
Dylan Magistad and freshman
Gavin Hutter quickly found themselves down 0-6 in their No. 1 doubles match, but battled back, tying up the set and ultimately bringing it to a tiebreak. They exchanged leads back and forth, until finally finding themselves with match point and closing it out 8-7 (7-5)
• The No. 3 doubles team of
Eli Scheideman and
Robert Seaton found themselves down 6-7, but managed to tie it 7-7 and force a tiebreak. The pair fell down 1-4 in the tiebreak, but refused to go out without a fight. They then had just two more points for the match, having the advantage 8-7. However, a resilient St. Olaf team fought back, winning the next three consecutive points and taking the set 8-7 (10-8)
• Freshman
Watson Sheard scored his 12th singles victory of the season with his 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles.
• After a tough battle in the first two sets, No. 1 singles player
Carter Sheard found himself in a split match 7-5, 5-7. In the third set tiebreaker, St. Olaf took an early lead, eventually leading to a 3-9 deficit. Sheard was able to stave off three match points before he fell 7-5, 5-7, 5-10
QUOTE FROM COACH FERNELIUS
"Heartbreaking loss to say the least, but credit to St. Olaf today. I believe this will motivate our guys to put in the work to be even better next year"
THE SCORES
Singles:
1. Bogdan Vizoli (STO) def.
Carter Sheard (BU) 5-7, 7-5, 10-5
2. Margan Veldic (STO) def.
Gavin Hutter (BU) 6-3, 6-1
3.
Dylan Magistad (BU) def. Jakub Belik (STO) 7-5, 6-1
4. Cathal Mee (STO) def.
Zack Chaffey (BU) 6-2, 6-3
5.
Watson Sheard (BU) def. Max Loesch (STO) 6-1, 6-2
6. Ben Anderson (STO) def. Robert Sheard 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 10-2
Doubles:
1.
Gavin Hutter and
Dylan Magistad (BU) def. Marjan Veldic and Bogdan Vizoli (STO) 8-7 (7-5)
2.
Watson Sheard and
Carter Sheard (BU) def. Jakub Belik and Max Loesch (STO) 8-4
3. Cathal Mee and Ryan Birnesser (STO) def.
Robert Seaton and
Eli Scheideman (BU) 8-7 (10-8)
