ST. PETER, Minn. – No. 25th-ranked Bethel women's tennis closed out the regular season falling to No. 34th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus, 6-3. The loss lands the Royals at No. 3 seed in the MIAC Playoffs where they will host a quarterfinal match on Tuesday against No. 6-seeded Saint Benedict.
The Royals were swept in doubles play, all coming by a three-game margin. They battled back in singles, with two of the six matches going to third set tiebreakers, but the deficit was to big to overcome.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• No. 3 doubles team of
Courtney Nuest and
Bryna Eigenfeld quickly found themselves down 2-7. However, the pair was not going out without a fight. They held off multiple set points, bringing the score to 5-7 before ultimately falling 5-8.
• Freshman
Michaella Sullivan exchanged breaks throughout her first set, finally taking control at 4-4 and winning the set 6-4. In the second, she took a decisive 4-1 lead and didn't give up another game, winning No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-1 for her sixth consecutive victory and finishing MIAC play 9-1.
• Sophomore
Courtney Nuest at No. 5 singles won her sixth straight match in straight sets closing out conference play with a 9-1 record.
• No. 1 singles player
Lauryn Douglas took a 3-0 lead in the first before her opponent broke back. Luckily, she held them off and took a close first set 6-4. Unfortunately, she could not keep up the momentum and fell in the second. In the third set tiebreaker, she found herself down 1-5. Although the odds were against her, she battled hard and ended up closing out the set 6-4, 4-6, 10-8
QUOTE FROM COACH FERNELIUS
"We played good tennis today and had our chances, but just too deep a hole to get out of after doubles. I have no doubt our ladies will be ready and give it everything they've got this week in the playoffs."
THE SCORES
Singles:
1.
Lauryn Douglas (BU) def. Molly Austin (GAC) 6-4, 4-6, 10-8
2.
Michaella Sullivan (BU) def. Allison Szalay (GAC) 6-4, 6-1
3. Kaya Debruijn (GAC) def.
Julia Baber (BU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Alli Laux (GAC) def.
Emma Thole (BU) 6-2, 6-3
5.
Courtney Nuest (BU) def. Pavla Yakimova (GAC) 6-3, 6-4
6. Ella De Young (GAC) def.
Malia McKinnon (BU) 5-7, 6-2, 10-4
Doubles:
1. Molly Austin and Kaya Debruijn (GAC) def.
Lauryn Douglas and
Michaella Sullivan (BU) 8-5
2. Bethany Smith and Allison Szalay (GAC) def.
Julia Baber and
Emma Thole (BU) 8-5
3. Alli Laux and Pavla Yakimova (GAC) def.
Bryna Eigenfeld and
Courtney Nuest (BU) 8-5
UP NEXT
For the second straight season the Royals host Saint Ben's in the quarterfinals which are set to take place on Tuesday, April 30. Match time at Ona Orth is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
