NORTHFIELD, Minn. – With their backs against the wall and facing a 4-1 deficit, the Carleton College women’s tennis team kept its title hopes alive by rattling off four consecutive victories—two of them during super tiebreakers and other in a regular tiebreaker— to rally for a 5-4 victory over Gustavus Adolphus College in a matchup of nationally-ranked foes. The triumph keeps the Knights (12-4, 8-0 MIAC) in a tie with St. Thomas atop the MIAC standings.

Carleton’s lone victory in doubles came at the second spot where Kristina Conrad (So./Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) and Alana Danieu (Jr./East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) prevailed by an 8-5 margin. That duo would also play a key role in the singles comeback.

Gustavus (13-7, 5-1 MIAC) extended its lead with victories at No. 3 and No. 5 singles, and the Gusties needed only one more win to claim the team triumph.

Danielle Vasiliev (Jr./Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) got the Carleton comeback going and improved to 4-0 in super tiebreakers this season with a 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (10-4) win atop the singles flights. Conrad followed with a 6-3, 6-1 result at the fourth spot in the lineup. Another tiebreaker went into the Carleton column as Danieu battled back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3) at No. 6 singles.

That meant the team decision hinged on the result at No. 2 singles where Carleton rookie Zoe Park (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) was locked in a lengthy battle against Gustavus junior Ally Baker. It was a tight tussle throughout, but Park was unfazed by the situation and edged her opponent by a 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-3) tally.

FROM THE COACH: "It's a great day for MIAC tennis,” said Carleton head coach Luciano Battaglini. “Both teams played very hard and fair, and although we won a great match today, I'm really proud of how both teams competed! Playing the well-coached Gusties is always a challenge, and you have to fight very hard if you want to have a chance against them. I hope we can keep the momentum going, because we have difficult matches ahead.”

UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS: Carleton hosts Augustana (Ill.) College in a non-conference meeting of regionally-ranked opponents on Sunday, April 23 at 9:30 a.m.

The Knights then close the regular-season with conference matches versus Macalester on April 29 and St. Thomas on April 30.

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