MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran men's and women's tennis teams will each take part in multiple matches this week as their spring season continues. The Viking women will kick things off today against Minnesota Morris at 2 p.m. before a 4 p.m. road match Friday with Wartburg and 10 a.m. home UMAC contest on Saturday against Northwestern. The Bethany men will head just up the road to Gustavus on Friday for a non-conference match beginning at 7 p.m., before they also take on Northwestern on Saturday morning at Bethany at 10 a.m.
Hear from Coach Janes
Here's what Head Coach Michael Janes had to say about the upcoming matches.
Janes: "We have been working every day to prepare for the conference season. There has been vast improvement since the fall and even from the start of the spring season. Now is our chance to use what we have learned to compete in the conference season. If we start out strong in doubles, we can give ourselves a greater opportunity in singles. All we need to do is compete for each and every point."
Preview the Women's Matches
Scouting the Vikings
Bethany is coming off of its two best matches of the season, a competitive 5-2 loss to UW-Stout on March 29th before picking up their first win of the season on Friday with a 7-0 decision over Crown. Brianna Lienig has been playing well for the Vikings, as she has won three of her past four singles matches at No. 5 singles and picked up two straight doubles wins at No. 2 with partner Emily Yehle. Yehle is also in a groove, as she has won her past two matches in both singles and doubles and is tied for the team-lead in wins on the season with Lienig with eight.
Scouting the Cougars
Minnesota Morris comes into the match following a hard fought 4-3 loss to Martin Luther on Saturday. Mariah Mireles picked up her second win of the year against the Knights and has two on the season to lead Morris in singles play. In doubles, Minami Rikimaru has been the leader for Morris as she is 2-1 on the year, while Marybeth Tautges has also picked up a pair of doubles wins.
Scouting the Knights
Wartburg comes into the match with the Vikings at 16-9 on the year and has won their past four matches. Brooke Bloom is coming off A-R-C Player of the Week honors and leads Wartburg this year with a 17-9 overall record and has won her past eight singles matches. In doubles play, Natalie Kaiser has teamed up with a variety of Knights at No. 1 singles and holds a season record of 19-11, while Emma Thurness is 18-10, playing at both No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.
Scouting the Eagles
Northwestern comes into the week at 5-11 on the season and has dropped their past three matches. Elise Jarchow has been a bright spot for the Eagles this year as she is currently 9-6 on the year at No. 3 singles, while posting a 8-5 record in doubles play mainly at No. 2. The doubles tandem of Isabelle Sullivan and Caitlyn Swigart has also been strong as they're 9-4 playing together this season.
Previewing the Men's Matches
Scouting the Vikings
Bethany comes into the week at 0-7 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. Ezra Greenman is coming off a strong week, as he picked up a win at No. 1 singles on March 28th when the Vikings took on Cornell College. In Bethany's conference loss to Crown last week, Alexandre Silva played a solid match at No. 3 singles, falling 6-0 in the first set but rebounding to force the second into extras to lose 7-5.
Scouting the Gusties
No. 34 Gustavus, with a roster of 21 players currently sits at 12-10 on the year and is 3-1 in their last four duals. The Vikings will likely see a plethora of Gusties in singles and doubles, as they also have a MIAC match scheduled for the same day. As a team, Gustavus is 151-86 in singles play on the season while they're 71-43 in doubles.
Scouting the Eagles
Like the women, the Northwestern men come into Saturday's match at 5-11 overall on the year and have yet to play a UMAC match. Caleb Swigart has been the top performer for UNW with a 6-3 record at No. 6 singles on the year, while Carson Haack and Griffen Jarchow are each 5-11 at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively. In doubles, Isaac Thomforde and Sam Majerus have been the top performers as they're 5-6 on the year at the No. 2 position.
