ST. PETER, Minn. – The top two men's tennis teams in the MIAC matched up in the finals of the conference tournament where Carleton College lost to Gustavus Adolphus College by a 5-1 tally. This was the 11th time in the last 14 MIAC Playoffs that Carleton (9-2) and Gustavus Adolphus (16-2) met in the championship match.
 
"Although we did fall victim to another talented Gustavus team, we were able to avoid the falling space rocket debris. It is all about perspective," said Carleton head coach Staphen Zweifel.
 
The Knights picked up their point at No. 1 doubles, where Leo Vithoontien (Sr./Bangkok, Thailand/Bangkok Patana School) and Xander Zuczek (Sr./Westerly, R.I./St. Bernard) notched an 8-4 triumph over the Gusties' Nick Aney and Alex Budde. The Knights top tandem entered the day ranked fifth in the Central Region, and this victory over the third-ranked pairing from Gustavus, keeps Vithoontien and Zuczek in contention for a berth in the doubles bracket of the NCAA Championships.
 
"Leo and Xander put on one of their patented lights out performances today in dubs," Zweifel said. "What a fitting end to their MIAC careers."
 
William Walsh (Jr./San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights) and Yuv Kataria (Fy./Kolkata, India/Weil Academy & College Prep) dropped a close battle at No. 2 doubles, falling 8-6.
 
Upon moving to singles, the Gusties earned wins at No. 5 and No. 6 singles and added a point when Zuczek was forced from the No. 2 singles match.
 
Because the match was played to decision, play was halted in the other three singles matches. VIthoontien took the first set over a regionally-ranked opponent at No. 1 singles before action stopped. Xander Roti (Jr./Locust Valley, N.Y./Friends Academy) sent his No. 3 singles match to an opening-set tiebreaker,
 
UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS
Carleton now waits for Wednesday's announcement of the singles and doubles brackets for the NCAA Championships. VIthoontien, the 2019 national runner-up, is a likely selection, while he and Zuczek remain on the bubble.
 
BOX SCORE
Singles competition
1. #6 Nick Aney (GACM) vs. #3 Leo Vithoontien (CAR) 3-6, 3-2, unfinished
2. Indraneel Raut (GACM) def. Xander Zuczek (CAR) 6-0, 3-0, retired
3. Daniel Fouchier (GACM) vs. Xander Roti (CAR) 7-6, unfinished
4. Alex Budde (GACM) vs. Yuv Kataria (CAR) 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
5. Jack Bergmeyer (GACM) def. William Walsh (CAR) 6-4, 6-0
6. Oscar Wikstrom (GACM) def. Aniketh Vipparla (CAR) 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. #5 Leo Vithoontien/Xander Zuczek (CAR) def. #3 Nick Aney/Alex Budde (GACM) 8-4
2. Daniel Fouchier/Jack Bergmeyer (GACM) def. William Walsh/Yuv Kataria (CAR) 8-6
3. Joseph Punnoose/Sourabh Terakanambi (GACM) def. Aswath Viswanathan/Aniketh Vipparla (CAR) 8-2