GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Bemidji State University Women's Tennis team faced a tough challenge on Saturday having to play two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matches. The Beavers stayed right with Sioux Falls in the first match before dropping the match by a 5-2 score. Then against #14 Augustana, the Vikings were just too much taking the 7-0 victory. Both matches were played in Grand Forks, N.D.
In the first match of the day, Bemidji State (2-11, 1-6 NSIC) nearly came away with the doubles point. The Beavers claimed the win at No. 2 with Emilia Sand/Isabela Nelson taking the 6-4 victory. After Sioux Falls (9-4, 4-3 NSIC) responded with the 6-1 win at No. 1 against Blanca Lopez-Oro/Nicoleta Anestiadi, it would come down to No. 3 for the point. Lexi Leitner/Laura Burger were in a back-and-forth battle before the Cougars held on for the 6-4 win to take the early 1-0 lead.
It was a battle in singles with several matches tightly contested. Lopez-Oro collected a point at the top flight going three sets. After coming up just short by a 7-5 score in the first set, she responded with a dominating 6-0 win in the second set. In the decisive set, Lopez-Oro was able to pull away for the 10-7 victory.
Lily Jones added another win at No. 6. She played a marathon with the first two sets going the distance. Jones was able to win the first set tiebreaker (7-6) and then nearly won in straight sets before falling in a tiebreaker (7-6) to send the match to a decisive set. In the third set, Jones was able to gain ground and take the 10-5 victory.
Anestiadi moved back up to compete at No. 2 and she also went three sets. All three sets were close with Anestiadi falling just short by a 7-6 tiebreaker in the opening set. She responded taking advantage of a break to win the second set, 7-5. In the decisive set, a late break was enough for Sioux Falls to take the set by a 6-4 score.
Sand at No. 3 and Nelson at No. 5 each won seven games in their matches. Sand dropped her opening set by a 6-3 score and then was within striking distance in the second set before coming up just short by a 6-4 score. Nelson lost the opening set by a 6-2 score and then responded with a strong second. She nearly forced a tiebreaker before falling just short by a 7-5 score.
Burger competed at No. 4 falling in straight sets by scores of 6-1, 6-0.
Then in the second match, #14 Augustana (12-2, 6-0 NSIC) proved worthy of their ranking in taking the 7-0 win. In doubles, Lopez-Oro/Anestiadi fought tough at the top flight picking up three games before falling by a score of 6-3. Sand/Nelson at No. 2 and then Burger/Leitner at No. 3 lost by the same scores of 6-0.
In singles, Anestiadi tallied three games in her match at No. 2 before falling by scores of 6-3, 6-0. Sand won two games at No. 3 before falling short by scores of 6-1, 6-1. Lopez-Oro ran into a tough matchup at No. 1 getting one game before falling in straight sets at 6-0, 6-1. Burger at No. 4, Nelson at No. 5 and Jones at No. 6 all lost by the same scores of 6-0, 6-0.
Bemidji State will return right back to Grand Forks next weekend (Apr. 1-2) facing UMary on Saturday starting at 3:30 p.m. and then MSU-Moorhead on Sunday beginning at 3 p.m. in NSIC action.
For more information on the Bemidji State tennis program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversTen), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversTen)
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association 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).
