Madison, Wis. - Carleton, competing with the top 12 teams in the central region, won two of its three matches to place ninth at the Midwest Invitational.
The Knights (11-4) dropped a tough 5-4 decision to Albion College (Mich), the fourth seed, in the opening match. The Britons took a 2-1 lead after doubles and held off a Carleton charge in singles. Diane Danforth and Eryn Koch won at second doubles with consistant first serves and service returns. In singles, Carleton needed four matches to win and only managed three. First-year player Abby Beggs extended her winning streak to 12 matches, winning at second singles. Sophomore Eryn Koch overcame a first-set deficit and slugged her way to victory at fourth singles. Rookie Shelley Getzendanner played a masterful second-set tiebreaker and a third set to win at sixth singles.
The Knights rallied to easily dispatch Kenyon College (Ohio), 7-2, and ended the tournament with a 5-2 victory over St. Mary's College (Ind.).
The Knights bounced back after their loss to the Britons by sweeping the Ladies in doubles play. Carleton proceeded to win 1-4 singles. Junior captains Danforth and Genevieve Philp, displaying their ability to open up the court and hit blistering winners, each won in straight sets.
In Saturday action, avenging past team and individual losses was the theme of Carleton's final Midwest Regional dual match against St. Mary's College (Ind.). Last year the Belles eked out a 5-4 victory, Not so this year, as Carleton won 5-2, in a match played to decision, meaning once the outcome was decided the match was ended.
Echoing last year's start, Carleton won two of three doubles matches. Philp and Beggs, dubbed "team country" by their teammates, sent the Belles home early with an 8-5 victory at first doubles. Rookies Meredith Klekotka and Getzendanner built on their 8-2 record with a victory at third doubles.
Philp began the singles march to victory at first singles. Refocusing after a first-set blur, Philp seemed oblivious to the St. Mary's fans banging on the Plexiglas viewing partition. First-year player Christina Walker played a cagey super-breaker to win at fifth singles. Danforth, avenging her loss last year to Kaitlin Cultler, won at third singles and brought home the victory. An honorable mention victory went to Koch. The sophomore was in the process of avenging last year’s loss, but the match was cut short with Koch leading, 6-0, 5-1. Koch was undefeated for the tournament at fourth singles.
Carleton’s ninth-place finish in the tournament improved upon last year's 12th place standing.
The Knights return to action on Tuesday, April 13, traveling to St. Paul to face the University of St. Thomas in a key MIAC match at 4 p.m.
Albion 5, Carleton 4
Singles
No. 1 Karen Dumas (AC) def. Genevieve Philp 6-4 6-4
No. 2 Abby Beggs (Car) def. Katie Torhga 7-6 1-6 6-4
No. 3 Betsy Netherton (AC) def. Diane Danforth 7-6 7-5
No. 4 Eryn Koch (Car) def. Emily Dumas 5-7 6-1 6-3
No. 5 Emily Stocker (AC) def. Christina Walker 7-5 6-4
No. 6 Shelley Getzendanner (Car) def. Caitlin Campbell 2-6 7-6 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 Dumas/Dumas (AC) def. Philp/Beggs 9-7
No. 2 Danforth/Koch (Car) def. Tornga/Stocker 8-6
No. 3 Netherton /Amy Esh (AC) def. Shelley Getzendanner/ Meredith Klekotka 8-4
Carleton 7, Kenyon 2
Singles
No. 1 Genevieve Philp (Car) def. Stephanie Cohn 6-4 6-2
No. 2 Abby Beggs (Car) def. Erin Brady 6-1 6-2
No. 3 Diane Danforth (Car) def. Emily King 6-2 6-0
No. 4 Eryn Koch (Car) def. Stephanie Paras 6-1 7-5
No. 5 Claire Larson (KC) def. Christina Walker 6-7 6-2 (10-4)
No. 6 Kara Basler (KC) def. Shelley Getzendanner 6-3 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 Philp/Beggs (Car) def. Melissa Harwin/Brady 8-6
No. 2 Danforth/Koch (Car) def. Kara Basler/Paras 8-4
No. 3 Getzendanner / Meredith Klekotka (Car) def. King /Larson 9-7
Carleton 5, St. Mary’s (Ind.) 2
Singles
No. 1 Genevieve Philp (Car) def. Jeannie Knish 0-6 6-3 (10-8)
No. 2 Kristen Palombo (SM) def. Abby Beggs 7-5 6-3
No. 3 Diane Danforth (Car) def. Kaitlin Cutler 6-4 6-3
No. 4 Kris Spriggle vs Eryn Koch DNF
No. 5 Christina Walker (Car) Kate Bowler 6-3 2-6 (10-4)
No. 6 Miranda Mikulyuk vs Shelley Getzendanner DNF
Doubles
No. 1 Philp/Beggs (Car) def. Knish /Bowler 8-5
No. 2 Cutler/Spriggle (SM) def. Danforth/Koch 8-6
No. 3 Shelley Getzendanner / Meredith Klekotka def. Palombo/Grace Gordon 8-6
