LAKEVILLE, Minn. – The Carleton College women's tennis team closed out an undefeated regular season with a 7-2 victory over College of Saint Benedict, securing the outright MIAC title for the Knights. It was appropriate that on Senior Day, senior
Sydney Bell (Lafayette, Calif./Acalanes) was the last Knight on the court and prevailed in a super tiebreaker.
Carleton, which clinched a share of the conference crown with yesterday's hard-fought victory over No. 37 Gustavus Adolphus, improved to 18-0 (10-0 MIAC) with Sunday's result. This is the ninth all-time MIAC title for the Knights and their sixth in the last 12 years.
The Knights built a 2-1 lead over the Bennies after doubles.
Amelia Asfaw (So./Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep) and
Mary Hose (Jr./Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) notched an 8-4 triumph at No. 1 doubles, while
Mariam Nechiporuk (So./Portland, Ore./Lake Oswego) and
Ingrid Smith (So./Edina, Minn./Edina) contributed an 8-1 result at the second slot.
Saint Benedict (9-7, 6-4 MIAC) picked up its first team point with an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles.
Nechiporuk was first to triumph in singles, winning 6-4, 6-0 at the fourth slot to move to 13-1 on the year.
Piper Brown (So./Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Porter-Gaud) followed with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) victory at No. 5 singles, keeping her undefeated in singles this season.
Hose notched her ninth consecutive singles victory, dominating her opponent at No. 2 singles for a 6-0, 6-0 victory.
Miriam Shteyman (So./Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) added a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles, improving to 11-2 on the year.
Saint Benedict's other team point came at No. 1 singles by a 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8) tally.
That left all spectators focused on the battle at No. 6 singles, which required a tiebreaker in the second set and third set super tiebreaker. Bell eventually came out on top by a 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-7) score.
Up Next for the Knights
As the top seed in the MIAC Playoffs, Carleton will have a bye in the quarterfinal round. The Knights are currently slated to host a semifinal match on Friday, April 28.