Bethel powers past Bemidji State in non-conference match

Beavers fall to Royals 7-0

The Bemidji State University Women’s Tennis team stayed in the state of Minnesota to face Bethel (MN) in Rogers, Minn., on Saturday with the Royals claiming the 7-0 win in non-conference action.

The Beavers (2-7) faced a Bethel squad that came in winners of their last three matches and improved to 4-1 on the year following the win on Saturday.In doubles, Bemidji State shifted combinations with Blanca Lopez-Oro out of the lineup. Emilia Sand returned for the first time since early February and teamed with Nicoleta Anestiadi at the top flight. They battled collecting three games before falling, 8-3. The other combinations remained the same for the Beavers. Laura Burger and Isabela Nelson played at No. 2 and claimed three games before falling, 8-3. At No. 3, Lily Jones and Lexi Leitner picked up two games before falling short, 8-2.

In singles, Sand moved up to play at No. 1 for the first time this season collecting four games before falling in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. For the fourth straight match Anestiadi moved up to play at No. 2 and stayed right with her opponent. After dropping the first set by a score of 3-6, Anestiadi rallied to win the second set, 6-4. That forced a decisive third set and the two played a super tiebreaker with Anestiadi collecting five games before falling, 10-5. Leitner was the next closest Beaver to picking up a set at No. 6. She was one game away from forcing a tiebreaker in the opening set coming up just short, 7-5. Then claimed two games in the second set before falling, 6-2. Burger moved up to play in the No. 3 slot for the fourth straight match and was able to get one game before falling, 6-0, 6-1. Nelson also remained one spot up for the fourth straight match slotting in at No. 4 as she fell in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. Jones was up at No. 5 for the fourth consecutive match and fell in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.

The Beavers will now be off until Mar. 17-18 when they will return to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play in Duluth. BSU will face Minnesota Duluth first on Mar. 17 starting at 6:30 p.m. and then will remain in Duluth to face St. Cloud State the next day on Mar. 18 at 9 a.m.