BEMIDJI, MINN. - The Bemidji State University tennis team got back into the win column Sunday as they breezed past the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons 8-1 at the Gillett Recreation and Fitness Center in Bemidji, Minn.

Bemidji State got out to a quick lead as its three doubles teams all played well with two out of the three picking up wins. The team of Kali Welu (Jr., Pequot Lakes, Minn.) and Shelia Hoberg (So., Bismarck, N.D.) took the No. 1 doubles point as they deafeated the Dragons Ashley Taborsky and Maria Cederberg by the score of 8-3. The other doubles point came from the No. 3 doubles team of Farrah Steinke (Fr., Crosby, Minn.) and Cheyanne Maki (So., Watford City, N.D.) as they rolled past Traci Pesta and Susan Gilkerson 8-2.

The Beavers finished the match strong as they swept the singles part of the competition en route to the victory. Kristen Lexcen (Sr., Andover, Minn.) played very well taking care of Claudia Irina 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Amy Erickson (Jr., Roseau, Minn.) got back in the win column as she dominated the Dragons Lexie Moon 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. The Beavers also saw solid performances from Hoberg who defeated Cederberg at No. 4 singles 6-2, 7-6 on a 7-5 tiebreaker.

Julie Kapsner (Jr., Pierz, Minn.) came back from a near second set collapse to take down Alyssa Schafer 6-3, 7-6 winning the tiebreaker 7-5. Steinke improved to 2-0 at No. 3 singles by defeating the Dragons Laura Benz 7-6, 6-1 using a 7-5 tiebreaker to claim the first set. Welu got back on the right track as she walked over Traborsky 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.

The victory for Bemidji State doubles its victory total from last year at 4-11 (0-2; NSIC). The Dragons drop to 2-10 on the season with the loss. Todays match was a non confernce match as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference allows for one match against conference opponents to count toward league record. The match counting toward NSIC play will take place on April 12 in Moorhead, Minn.

The win for the Beavers is the first against Minnesota State University Moorhead since March 6, 2005 and snaps a four game losing streak to the Dragons.

Bemidji State heads back on the road April 1 to play three matches in two days as they are scheduled to face off against NSIC opponent Northern State as well as Concordia College on April 1 with the first match against the Wolves starting at 1:00 p.m. and the match against the Cobbers scheduled for 4:00 p.m. with both matches taking place in Moorhead, Minn. The next day the Beavers travel to Bismarck, N.D. to play a conference match against the University of Mary.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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