The Johnnie tennis team (6-5, 1-2 MIAC) returns to action this Wednesday, April 7, at Bethel (6-3, 1-2 MIAC). The match is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Ona Orth Park in Arden Hills.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's five-match winning streak came to an end with a 6-3 loss to NCAA Division II-foe St. Cloud State on March 28, 15 days since its last competition. Freshman Fabricio Moncada (Managua, Nicaragua/Lincoln International Academy) improved his record to 5-1 at No. 1 singles with a 6-4, 6-3 decision. Sophomore Justin LaBeaux (Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen) tallied the Johnnies' other singles win, 6-0 and 6-4, at No. 6. Junior Elliott Elm (Eagan, Minn./Holy Angels) and freshman Zach Shriwise (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) teamed up to earn the third and final win for SJU (6-5, 1-2 MIAC) at No. 3 doubles, 8-6. Elm and senior Luke Odegaard (Forest Lake, Minn.) dropped close singles matches in three sets at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively.

A LOOK AT THE ROYALS: Bethel saw its four-match winning streak come to an end with a 5-4 loss to Macalester on March 27. The Royals found themselves in an early hole following the doubles portion of the contest. Senior Joel Cassens and freshman Tucker Morris managed to pick up the Royals lone win in doubles play as they won their match 9-8 via an 8-6 tiebreaker. Down 2-1 entering singles play, the Royals managed to string together three straight wins before dropping the final two matches. Cassens, sophomore Kent Nichols and Morris all won their respective matches in singles competition. Senior Tom Ronning battled Macalester's number one singles player Michael Coleman in a hard fought, back-and-forth match, before eventually falling 14-12 in the final tiebreaker set.

THE SERIES: Since 1995, SJU is 9-6 against Bethel. However, the Johnnies have lost each of the last three meetings by the slimmest of margins, 5-4.

LAST YEAR'S MATCH: Saint John's lost its third-straight match by a score of 5-4 to Bethel last April 24 in Collegeville. Four matches were either determined by a tie- or super-breaker. The Johnnies picked up two wins in singles competition via the extra frame. Sophomore Ian Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) won at No. 3 6-3 and 7-6 (7-5) to earn his team-best 10th victory of the season, while senior Eric Inglis won at No. 6 6-4, 6-7 (5-7) and 10-8 in the super-breaker. The two then teamed-up to pick up a 9-8 (7-4) win at No. 3 doubles. The tandem of senior Kevin Goihl and senior Dutch Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) claimed SJU's other win at No. 2 doubles, 8-6.