ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The sixth-seeded St. Olaf College women's tennis team was defeated, 5-0, by No. 38-ranked and third-seeded Bethel University in the quarterfinals of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs on Wednesday afternoon at Ona Orth Athletic Complex.

Bethel (19-4) swept the three doubles matches and earned straight-set victories at No. 3 and No. 4 singles to end the match at decision and advance to the semifinals. St. Olaf (7-8) was making its first appearance in the MIAC Playoffs in three seasons and its 11th in the 13 years of the conference tournament.

The Royals will travel to No. 2-seeded Gustavus in the semifinals on Friday, May 3, while No. 4-seeded St. Thomas will visit No. 1-seeded Carleton. The Tommies blanked fifth-seeded Saint Mary's, 5-0, in Wednesday's other quarterfinal match at Baseline Tennis Center.

Bethel picked up victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles by identical 8-2 score lines, led by sisters Grace and Maggie Riermann, the No. 10-ranked pairing in NCAA Division III, at the top spot. The Royals finished off the doubles sweep with an 8-5 win at the third spot.

In singles, Mackenzie Novak defeated Ellie Bergstrand by a 6-3, 6-2 margin at No. 3 singles and Jill Weinzettel topped Emily Otteson, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 at No. 4 singles to send the Royals to the semifinals.

Bethel had won the first sets at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 singles before the match was decided.

The match brought an end to the careers of St. Olaf's three seniors: Ellie Bergstrand, Kellis Brandt and Tiffany Wong.

Sophomore Greta Prokosch finished the season with a team-high 10 singles wins, followed by Otteson with nine, for the Oles. Bergstrand and Otteson led St. Olaf with eight doubles victories as a tandem, while Sabrina Barboza and Prokosch posted seven wins.