NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College men's tennis team blanked cross-town rival St. Olaf College, 9-0, on Wednesday in the Knights' season opener. Three-time All-American Leo Vithoontien (Sr./Bangkok, Thailand/Bangkok Patana School) contributed victories in doubles and singles.
 
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this was the first match for the Carleton men's tennis program (1-0, 1-0 MIAC) since Feb. 29. 2000. Meanwhile, St. Olaf (4-3, 2-3 MIAC) has been in action for more than a month.
 
"After 410 days since our last competition, we felt as liberated as a container ship exiting the Suez Canal," said Carleton head coach Stephan Zweifel.
 
After making the short jaunt across the Cannon River, the Knights swept doubles play with Vithoontien and Xander Zuczek (Sr./Westerly, R.I./St. Bernard) registering an 8-2 result at first doubles, followed by an 8-3 triumph by Noah Mueller (So./Dubai, UAE/German International School Dubai) and Yuv Kataria (Fy./Kolkata, India/Weil Academy & College Prep) at second doubles. Christof Zweifel (Sr./Northfield, Minn./Northfield) and Aniketh Vipparla (Fy./Cary, N.C./Green Hope) added an 8-7 (7-5) victory at the third slot.
 
Upon moving to singles, Kataria was first to finish, securing a 6-1, 6-1 victory at fourth singles. Vithoontien was not far behind at first singles, notching the 6-1, 6-4 triumph at the top spot in the lineup.
 
Xander Roti (Jr./Locust Valley, N.Y./Friends Academy) got into the win column with his 6-4, 6-2 victory at the second slot, and Aswath Viswanathan (So./Lincolnshire, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) made his collegiate debut at singles with a 6-0, 6-2 win.
 
Will Stepanski (So./Villa Park, Calif./Villa Park) added a decisive 6-1, 6-1 result at the sixth slot, and Vipparla outlasted his opponent at third singles 7-6 (1), 6-2 to complete the sweep.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS
After waiting more than 400 days between matches, Carleton will face its second opponent in 24 hours when the University of St. Thomas visits the Pat Lamb Tennis Courts at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 15.

Singles competition
1. Leo Vithoontien (CAR) def. Spencer Wick (STO) 6-1, 6-4
2. Xander Roti (CAR) def. Michael Yousef (STO) 6-4, 6-2
3. Aniketh Vipparla (CAR) def. Ethan Bruha (STO) 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
4. Yuv Kataria (CAR) def. Dez Young (STO) 6-1, 6-1
5. Aswath Viswanathan (CAR) def. Tony Klagge (STO) 6-0, 6-2
6. Will Stepanski (CAR) def. Tim Roback (STO) 6-1, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Leo Vithoontien/Xander Zuczek (CAR) def. Spencer Wick/Michael Yousef (STO) 8-2
2. Noah Mueller/Yuv Kataria (CAR) def. Dez Young/Tim Roback (STO) 8-3
3. Christof Zweifel/Aniketh Vipparla (CAR) def. Tony Klagge/Ethan Bruha (STO) 8-7 (7-4)