BISMARCK,N.D. - The Bemidji State University tennis team spoiled the University of Mary Marauders home opener Tuesday in Bismarck, N.D. by pulverizing the Maruaders 8-1.

Kali Welu (Jr., Pequot Lakes, Minn.) continued her dominant play as she paired with Shelia Hoberg (So., Bismarck, N.D.) to breeze past the Maruaders’ Chelsey Stark and Marisa Steadman 8-1. Welu finished her perfect week needing a third set to defeat Stark, 6-1, 4-6, 10-5. Welu went a flawless 6-0 on the week pairing with Hoberg at No. 1 doubles as well as competiting at No.1 singles. With the wins Welu improves her consecutive un-beaten streak to eight combined matches.

The doubles team of Kristen Lexcen (Sr., Andover, Minn.) and Kara Johnson (Fr., Anoka, Minn.) squeezed out a win at the No. 2 position using a, 11-9, tiebreaker to take the point by a score of, 9-8. The Beavers finished the doubles portion of play with a, 3-0, lead.

Julie Kapsner (Jr., Pierz, Minn.) made quick work of the Marauders’ Marisa Steadman by defeating Steadman, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 5 singles. The No. 3 singles saw freshman Farrah Steinke (Crosby, Minn.) got back to her winning ways as she defeated Marys’ Jessica Seifert 6-3, 6-0. Hoberg and the Marauder’s Mariah Linn played the most entertaining match of the day as Hoberg took the first set, 7-5, before dropping the second set, 2-6, to force the tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker Hoberg was able to top Linn by winning 10-7 to pick up the point at No. 4 singles.

With the win the Beavers continue to show improvement from years past as they now stand at 6-12 (2-2; NSIC). The conference win total of two had not been accomplished since the 2005 season. The Maruaders fall to 0-3 (0-3; NSIC) with the loss.

Bemidji State returns to action April 12 as they travel to Moorhead, Minn. to take on the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with the match scheduled for noon.

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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