ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Despite singles wins from Sophia Jonas and Maria Bedford plus two victories in doubles, the season for the No. 6 seeded College of Saint Benedict tennis team (9-7) ended in a closely contested 5-4 loss to No. 3 Bethel (16-4) on Wednesday (April 26) in the quarterfinals of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Tournament.

With the win, Bethel improved to 16-4 and advanced to the tournament semifinals on Friday, April 28. The Bennies ended their season at 9-8 but with their 6-4 league record, they were seeded sixth. The league mark was the best season in the league since going 6-4 in 2013-14.

"We battled all night," said CSB Head Coach Jack Bowe. "We had a couple of points go the other way and it hurt. But the team showed great effort all season and especially tonight," he said.

In the final match of her career, senior Maria Bedford recorded a straight set win of 6-0, 6-2 over Bryna Eigenfeld of Bethel. For Bedford, she finished the year with a 14-3 record and 7-3 mark in MIAC play. It has been a special season for Bedford, who twice has earned MIAC Athlete of the Week honors and set a program mark with 12 straight wins to open the season.  

At No. 5 singles, sophomore Sophia Jonas, who won her second singles match of the spring, with a big performance. She posted a 6-3, 6-1 win over Rylee Schurman, who had defeated her four days ago in a tiebreaker.

Jonas was also part of a winning doubles effort, teaming with Anne Bowe at No. 2 doubles for an 8-6 win over Emma Thole and Rylee Schurman. The Jonas/Bowe tandem had a 4-5 record this spring.

Also winning in doubles was the No. 3 squad of Jane Bodensteiner and Maria Bedford. With an 8-7 (7-4) tie-breaker win, they finished at 12-3 overall and had a 7-2 conference record. The tandem finished the season with three straight wins.

At No. 1 doubles match, Tarrolly/Kopel was defeated by Baber/Douglas, 8-6 in a closely contest matchup. Tarrolly/Kopel finished 6-6 on the season.

At No. 1 singles Ashley Tarrolly's eight-match winning streak ended in a three-set loss to Lauryn Douglas, 6-1, 6-7 (7-4), 6-2. Tarrolly, who is regionally ranked in NCAA DIII, stands 9-3 on the season. She was 7-2 in league play and had won eight of her previous 10 matches.

At No. 2 singles, Peyton Kopel fell to 7-10 on the season after a loss to Julie Baber, 6-3, 6-2.

At No. 3 singles, Greta Nesbit lost a hard-fought contest and who finished the year at 9-8. Bethel's Elise Bierbaum took a 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 win over Nesbit. At No. 4, Jane Bodensteiner finished 10-6 after falling to Emma Thole, 6-3, 6-1.