ST. PETER, Minn. – Bethel women's tennis's saw an incredible 2024 season come to an end Thursday night in the MIAC Playoff semifinals falling to No. 25th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus, 5-3.

The Royals, ranked No. 27th nationally, fell down 2-1 after doubles before the Gusties scored the first point with a straight set win at fourth singles pulling ahead 3-1. BU got wins at No. 1 and No. 3 singles pulling within 4-3 before GAC captured the winning team point at No. 6 singles.

The Royals end their season 18-4 overall thanks to one of the best starts in program history where they went 13-0. Bethel spent six consecutive weeks in the national rankings that included a program-best No. 24 ranking in March.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The No. 1 doubles team Lauryn Douglas and Michaella Sullivan took an early 3-1 lead in doubles. Gustavus broke back, but the pair responded by taking the next three consecutive games, making it 6-2. Although they missed a couple of chances to take the match, they managed to keep hold of their lead, finally winning Bethel's singular doubles point of the afternoon 8-6.
• Freshman Michaella Sullivan found herself in a tight battle at No. 2 singles, being down 3-4 in the first set. However, she turned things around, winning the last three games to take the set 6-4. She then dominated in the second, pulling away 3-0 to begin and only giving up one game for a final match score of 6-4, 6-1
• Sophomore Lauryn Douglas kept the intensity at No. 1 singles holding a lead the entire time, taking a small break at 3-2 before winning the next three games for the set. In the second, her lead was broken and she found herself down 3-4. However, she battled hard and took the three games needed for a straight set win 6-2, 6-4.
• No. 5 singles player Courtney Nuest won the first game of her match, but unfortunately could not hold a lead throughout the entirety of the set falling 4-6. In spite of that, she regained her momentum and was off and running in the second, having a 5-1 lead before the match went unfinished with GAC picking up the fifth team point.

QUOTE FROM COACH FERNELIUS
"We battled until the bitter end and gave it everything we had. Gustavus was just a little too much for us today. Tough way to end an incredible season, but I couldn't be prouder of such an incredible group of ladies."

THE SCORES
Singles:
1. Lauryn Douglas (BU) def. Molly Austin (GAC) 6-2, 6-4
2. Michaella Sullivan (BU) def. Allison Szalay (GAC) 6-4, 6-1
3. Kaya Debruijn (GAC) def. Julia Baber (BU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Alli Laux (GAC) def. Emma Thole (BU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Courtney Nuest (BU) vs. Pavla Yakimova (GAC) 4-6, 5-1 (unfinished)
6. Ella De Young (GAC) def. Malia McKinnon (BU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles:
1. Lauryn Douglas and Michaella Sullivan (BU) def. Molly Austin and Kaya Debruijn (GAC) 8-6
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) 8-2