Box Score BEMIDJI, Minn. (Gillett Recreation/Fitness Center) – Bemidji State University women’s tennis team wrapped up its regular season with a win at home over University of Minnesota Duluth Sunday, 7-2. The Beavers used strong singles play to top Bulldogs and capture their fifth victory of the2015 season.
The Beavers started the morning out in a slump as they lost two-of-three three doubles matches. Earning BSU’s win was No.1 doubles pair, Shaylin Prout and Deanie Hatch, who took their match, 8-3. Teams of Caley Westin and Rachel Franklin, at No. 2, and Claudia Bellew and Sabrina Okeson, in the No. 3 slot, each held leads, late, but were outlasted by UMD’s pairs.
BSU came firing back in singles play. Prout, BUS’s top individual, had a close first set, but was able to push through as the score ended 7-5. Prout easily won her second set, 6-1 to take the match. No. 2 singles player, Deanie Hatch, won her first set, 6-1, but her opponent, Jillian Klasen, came back to win the second set 7-6 (7-4). Hatch was able to defeat Klasen by winning the tie break, 10-3. Claudia Bellew, in the No. 4 singles position, also won her match in a tie break (1-6, 6-1 (10-4)). No. 3, Caley Westin, No. 5, Rachel Franklin, and No. 6, Justine Scheller, didn’t run into much trouble during singles play, as none of them allowed their opponent to win more than two games and each won in straight sets.
Bemidji State took all six singles matches to defeat Minnesota Duluth, 7-2, and wrap up the season.
BSU will not advance to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships this season, as only the top eight teams in the final league standings make the conference event. The Beavers finish the regular season 5-10 overall and 4-9 in NSIC play to sit on the outside looking in in 10th place.
Sunday’s match was the final collegiate contest for the team’s only senior Caley Westin. The Virginia, Minn. native and team captain, played was an anchor for the team over the last four seasons, playing the last two on BSU’s No. 2 doubles team and in the No. 3 slot in singles play.
For more information on the Bemidji State women’s tennis program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.
Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
--bsu--
