The University of Minnesota Duluth's 2018 season came to an end Saturday night with a 5-3 loss to Bemidji State University in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference quarterfinals in Minnetonka, Minn.
The Bulldogs finished the year with a 9-5 overall record and that .642 winning percentage is the best since 2007.
Making its second NSIC Tournament appearance in as many years, UMD went 2-1 in doubles to start the match against the Beavers before dropping four of five singles events. Sophomore
Elsa Erickson and senior
Katie Baasch prevailed at No. 2 doubles (8-5) and the freshmen tandem of
Natalie Cahill and
Isabel Thiner did likewise at No. 3 (8-4). Cahill picked up the Bulldogs' lone singles victory -- a 6-2, 6-0 takedown of Brooke Mimmack at No. 4. Baachs' No. 5 singles clash with Breann Walsh was heading to a tie-breaker when the match was called.
Cahill closed out her debut collegiate season with an 8-1 singles record while Baasch went 9-4. Baasch and Erickson were a team-leading 9-4 in doubles.
Saturday's setback meant the end of the line of UMD's three seniors -- Baasch,
Shelby Benkofske (who has handled the team's No. 1 singles role the past three seasons) and
Jillian Klasen.
Bemidji State 5, UMD 3 (Results)
