OWATONNA, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women's tennis team dropped its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) opener to Bethel University by a narrow 5-4 score on Friday evening at West Hills Tennis & Fitness Center.

Trailing 2-1 after doubles, St. Olaf (0-2, 0-1 MIAC) won three of the first five singles matches to finish to tie the team score at 4-4, but Bethel (3-2, 1-0 MIAC) pulled out a win at No. 5 singles to claim the victory. The win was the Royals' seventh-straight victory in the series between the two programs.

Bethel picked up victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to take a 2-0 lead before first years Sarah Clark and Jane Spading improved to 2-0 this season with an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles. Seniors Christiana Cholakis and Teresa Fawcett fell be the same score line in a tightly-contested match at No. 2 doubles.

Clark put another point on the board in singles after her opponent was forced to retire due to illness with Clark ahead 4-3 in the first set. The Royals recorded straight-set wins at No. 4 and No. 1 doubles to take a 4-2 lead, leaving the Oles needing wins from each of the final three matches on court.

Sophomore Anna Secor earned her first-career singles victory with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles to bring the score to 4-3 before Cholakis tied it up with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles. Emma Thole provided the clinching point for Bethel with a 6-2, 6-3 win over first year Fiona O'Flaherty.

The Oles return to West Hills Tennis & Fitness Center to face Hamline on Friday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m.