ROGERS, Minn. – Already in possession of the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MIAC Playoffs, the Carleton College women's tennis team used its depth in singles to rally for a 6-3 win over Bethel University in the regular-season finale for both squads.
 
The Royals (10-10, 6-4 MIAC) jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles, but the Knights (13-1, 9-1 MIAC) won the first five singles matches to finish to secure the team decision.
 
With their 8-3 triumph at No. 2 doubles, Carleton's Mariam Nechiporuk (Fy./Portland, Ore./Lake Oswego) and Ingrid Smith (Fy./Edina, Minn./Edina) moved to 7-0 as a tandem this season. The Royals evened the score after an 8-3 triumph at No. 3 doubles.
 
The No. 1 doubles match featured a pair of regionally-ranked duos, with Bethel's sixth-ranked tandem of Grace Riermann and Sydney Rott prevailing 8-4 over the seventh-ranked pairing of Mary Frances Hose (So./Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) and Amelia Asfaw (Fy./Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep).
 
In singles, Sydney Bell (Jr./Lafayette, Calif./Acalanes) registered a quick 6-2, 6-0 victory at the sixth slot, and Miriam Shteyman (Fy./Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) added a 6-2, 6-3 triumph from the fifth spot.
 
Asfaw improved to 12-0 on the season with her 6-2, 6-1 win over Rott at No. 2 singles, and Smith clinched the Knights' victory via a 6-1, 6-4 result at No. 4 singles. Nechiporuk contributed a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles for the final Carleton team point.
 
Bethel's other team point came last as Riermann edged Hose 6-2, 7-5 at No. 1 singles in a tussle between the No. 5 and No. 7 players, respectively, in the Central Region.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton earned a first-round bye in the MIAC Playoffs, so the Knights will host either No. 3 St. Catherine, No. 4 Bethel, or No. 5 St. Olaf in the semifinals, which are slated for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 5.
 
#11 Carleton College 6, Bethel (MN) 3
Singles competition
1. #5 Grace Riermann (BUW) def. #7 Mary Frances Hose (CAR) 6-2, 7-5
2. #20 Amelia Asfaw (CAR) def. Sydney Rott (BUW) 6-2, 6-1
3. Mariam Nechiporuk (CAR) def. Elise Bierbaum (BUW) 6-3, 6-3
4. Ingrid Smith (CAR) def. Emma Thole (BUW) 6-1, 6-4
5. Miriam Shteyman (CAR) def. Rylee Schurman (BUW) 6-2, 6-3
6. Sydney Bell (CAR) def. Ingrid Goldstrand (BUW) 6-2, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. #6 Grace Riermann/Sydney Rott (BUW) def. #7 Mary Frances Hose/Amelia Asfaw (CAR) 8-4
2. Mariam Nechiporuk/Ingrid Smith (CAR) def. Emma Thole/Rylee Schurman (BUW) 8-3
3. Elise Bierbaum/Ingrid Goldstrand (BUW) def. Taylor Thulson/Piper Brown (CAR) 8-5