ST. PETER, Minn. – The No. 21-ranked Gustavus men’s tennis team swept Bethel University 9-0 Thursday afternoon at Swanson Tennis Center in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoff semifinal matchup.
With the win, the Gusties improve their overall record to 23-8 on the season and advance to the MIAC Playoff Championship match, in search of their 10th all-time and seventh-straight postseason crown.
“We competed well today,” said Head Coach Tommy Valentini. “We stayed the course and stayed poised in the doubles and were able to come through with the lead. In the singles, the guys executed their plans well and had some good results against a good singles group.”
Singles
- Mohanad Alhouni (Jr., Tripoli, Libya) (GAC) def. Matt Schull (BU) 6-0, 7-6
- Zach Ekstein (Jr., Eagan, Minn.) (GAC) def. Kolin Kiekhoefer (BU) 6-0, 6-4
- Patrick Whaling (So., Mankiob Sabot, Va.) (GAC) def. Hunter Fernelius (BU) 6-2, 6-2
- Tommy Entwistle (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) def. Jakob Bartels (BU) 6-3, 6-1
- Chase Johnson (So., Golden Valley, Minn.) (GAC) def. Noah Ridgway (BU) 6-0, 6-0
- Yassine Derbani (Fy., Casablanca, Morocco) (GAC) def. Henry Morris (BU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
- Alhouni/Whaling (GAC) def. Matt Schull/Hunter Fernelius (BU) 8-4
- Entwistle/Johnson (GAC) def. Kolin Kiekhoefer/Noah Ridgway (BU) 8-6
- David Hagberg (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.)/Derbani (GAC) def. Jakob Bartels/Kent Schaller (BU) 8-5
“We’re grateful to move on in the tournament and for the opportunity that comes with Saturday,” Valentini commented.
Gustavus will face either No. 2 seed Carleton College or the No. 3 seed University of St. Thomas on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. at Swanson Tennis Center.