The fourth-seeded Johnnie tennis team hosts fifth-seeded Bethel in the MIAC quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, at the Chang Tennis Complex in Collegeville.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (10-6, 6-3 MIAC) closed its regular-season schedule with a 9-0 shutout of Hamline last Thursday (April 28) at Sta-Fit in Sartell.

The closest doubles match for SJU against Hamline was an 8-5 decision by juniors Hunter Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar) and Wil McDowell (Sioux Falls, S.D./O'Gorman) at No. 1.

Junior Peyton Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar) needed the super-breaker for his victory at No. 2 singles (6-1, 2-6, 10-6) and freshman Ryan Will (Northfield, Minn.) won his second set at No. 3 with a 7-3 tie-breaker. The duo collected an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles to improve to 11-5 (6-3 MIAC) on the year.

SJU cruised to straight-set wins at the other four singles bouts for its 16th consecutive victory in the series.

SJU'S POSTSEASON HISTORY: The Johnnies are making their eighth MIAC Playoff appearance in the last 10 seasons and 15th overall in 2022. Wednesday's match is the first for SJU in Collegeville since the format switch to the high seed hosting in 2014. SJU hosted Macalester at Saint Benedict's tennis courts - the Johnnies' home outdoor site from 2012-16 - in the 2016 quarterfinals and earned a 6-3 win.

A LOOK AT THE ROYALS: Bethel (11-7, 5-4 MIAC) closed the regular season with a 9-0 shutout of St. Scholastica on Saturday (April 30) in Rogers. Three Royals recorded 6-3 singles records in MIAC play: junior Jacob Lukkarila (11-7 overall at No. 3), junior Luke Wyly (12-6 at No. 4) and freshman Steven Benoy (12-6 at No. 5). In doubles play, the Royals tallied a 5-4 record at all three: senior Erik Beckers/senior Jason Reilly (9-9 at No. 1), Lukkarila/Wyly (11-6 at No. 2) and Benoy/freshman Andrew Holmes (10-6 at No. 3).

LAST MONTH: SJU topped Bethel with a 6-3 decision earlier this season on April 9 in Arden Hills. The Johnnies swept all three doubles matches and won at Nos. 1 and 2 singles thanks to the super-breaker.

Hunter Fischer and McDowell won at No. 1, 8-5, as well as Peyton Fischer and Will at No. 2. 

Sophomore Ian Aadland (Brainerd, Minn.) and freshman Cooper Anderson (St. Paul, Minn./White Bear Lake) won a nail-biter at No. 3, 8-7 (7-4).

McDowell claimed the first of SJU's six singles wins at No. 1: 6-3, 1-6, 10-5. Peyton Fischer bounced back from a 6-1 loss in his first set at No. 2 with a 6-2 margin in the second and 10-7 victory in the super-breaker.

Sophomore Daniel Perez (Quito, Ecuador) improved to 5-6 (4-2 MIAC) with a win at No. 6, 6-4 and 7-5.

The Royals won their three matches in straight sets.

SERIES HISTORY: SJU is 19-14 against Bethel since 1990, including a 9-5 record in Collegeville. The Royals, however, have won each of the last four meetings in Collegeville (2007, 2009, 2017, 2021) and six of the last nine meetings overall. The two teams have met once in the MIAC Playoffs, a 6-3 BU win on May 2, 2017, in Arden Hills.