Results

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Saint John's tennis suffered its first conference loss since Feb. 27 with a 5-4 defeat at Bethel on Sunday, April 17, in Arden Hills.

The two teams split the six singles matches but the Royals (16-4, 3-3 MIAC) posted a 2-1 record in doubles play earlier in the match to earn the win.

The tandem of seniors Ben Lahren (Wausau, Wis./West) and Andrew Nagel (Maple Grove, Minn.) won the lone doubles match for SJU (8-7, 4-3 MIAC) at No. 2, 9-7, to improve to 7-1 (3-1 MIAC) on the year.

Sophomore Tim Larson (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) 10-4 (6-1 MIAC) won his match at No. 2 singles in straight sets, with the help of a tie-breaker in the second set (6-4 and 7-6/8-6).

A pair of freshmen, Ryan Meger (Stillwater, Minn./Mahtomedi) and Jonah Punnoose (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson), won the other two matches at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively. Punnoose is now 6-1 (3-0 MIAC) at No. 6 this season.

Lahren suffered the tough-luck loss for SJU at No. 4 singles. He won the first set 6-3 but dropped the second by the same score and gained a 9-8 lead in the super-breaker until his opponent, Jakob Bartels, rattled off three straight points for the 11-9 decision and the win.

The Johnnies return to the St. Paul area for a 4 p.m. match at Hamline on Thursday, April 21.