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The St. Thomas men’s tennis team defeated Bethel University 7-2 Saturday night at the University of Minnesota Baseline Tennis Center.

“I think the biggest strength of our team is that we’re really deep,” senior captain Andy Michels said. “We have 10 players [who] can go out and compete against any team in the conference or in the nation.”

St. Thomas started the match strong by winning all three doubles matches.

Junior Dan Cooper and senior captain Kevin Walker were aggressive at No. 3 doubles, beating their opponent 8-3.

“We were both returning really well. We were both tearing it up at the net, easy holes,” Walker said. “They were struggling with their serve, and we held every time.”

Bethel was strong in the top singles positions. The Tommies lost at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, but they were able to pick up wins in the other four singles positions.

Michels had a convincing 6-1, 6-1 win against his opponent at No. 3 singles.

“It was important for me to get balls back in play and not to give away any easy points. Just trying to hit the ball down the line so he couldn’t get a rhythm,” Michels said. “If I could give him different balls every time, he couldn’t adjust.”

With only three matches left in the regular season, the Tommies have the third-best record in the MIAC behind Carleton and Gustavus.

“We have to continue to play well and compete in practice and get better,” Michels said.

The team will clinch the third seed in the MIAC playoffs if it beats Hamline at the Pipers’ home courts Saturday, April 9, Walker said.

Michael Ewen can be reached at mtewen@stthomas.edu.