Johnson posts four wins as BSU splits day of NSIC play

The Bemidji State University tennis team split a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matches Sunday. After sweeping Minnesota State University, Mankato, 7-0, the Beavers were edged by Southwest Minnesota State, 4-3.

Led by a 4-0 weekend of play for BSU newcomer Shaelyn Johnson, the Beavers opened the neutral-site day of play with a 7-0 victory over Minnesota State. BSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead taking all three doubles matches. The BSU dominance continued into singles action. Each of BSU’s singles players earned straight sets victories, which included a 6-3, 6-1 win in the No. 2 slot by Johnson and a 6-0, 6-2 win in the No. 3 singles position by fellow BSU newcomer Claudie Billand.

The sweep allowed the Beavers to even their season record to 2-2 and marks the third consecutive meeting that BSU has shut out the Mavericks.

In the afternoon match, BSU went head-to-head with an undefeated SMSU team. The Beavers managed to pull off claiming the doubles point after the team of Sophie Groen and Johnson posted a 6-1 win in the No. 1 doubles match and Isabela Nelson and Hannah Peterson battled long and hard to take the No. 3 match, 7-5.

Owning a 1-0 lead as singles play got underway, Johnson posted a 6-4, 7-6 win in the No. 2 singles match and Billand followed suit in the No. 3 position, 6-4, 6-1, but that was all the Beavers could manage as the Mustangs earned wins at No. 1, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 to clinch the match victory, 4-3, and improve to 4-0 on the season.

The Beavers, now 2-3 overall and 2-3 in NSIC play, will travel to Winona, Minn. next weekend to face Upper Iowa University and Winona State University in NSIC action. The Beavers open the weekend with a 3 p.m. contests versus UIU Saturday before facing WSU on it home courts at 12 p.m. Sunday.