ROCHESTER, Minn. – The No. 39-ranked Carleton College women's tennis team fought off a rally from Minnesota State University-Mankato and defeated the NCAA Division II program by a 6-3 score. Amelia Asfaw and Ryann Witter each won in both singles and doubles for the Knights.
 
Carleton improved to 6-0 this season, while the Mavericks slipped to 3-2 overall.
 
The Knights swept doubles, but it was not easy. Witter and Kat Smiricinschi notched the first team point with an 8-5 triumph at No. 3 doubles. Asfaw and Mary Hose prevailed in a tiebreaker – the first of four tiebreakers in the match – to take the No. 1 doubles contest by an 8-7 (7-2) tally. Mariam Nechiporuk and Ingrid Smith picked up an 8-6 result at the second slot.
 
Minnesota State looked to rally in singles, jumping out to leads in five of the six singles matches. Carleton settled in and eventually claimed three of the six contests.
 
After the Mavericks secured a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles, Witter pushed the Knights' lead back out to three points with her victory at the sixth slot by the same score.
 
Kiley Pickens improved to 6-0 this season as she rallied from a set down to claim the No. 5 singles contest by a 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6) margin, securing the team result for Carleton.
 
Asfaw overcame an early 3-0 deficit at No. 1 singles before besting her opponent by a 7-5, 6-1 tally.
 
Minnesota State won the final two matches, both via super tiebreakers. The Mavericks won at the fourth slot 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (11-9) and at the second spot 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10-6).
 
"Great competition this afternoon against a very good opponent," said Carleton assistant coach Aaron Chaput. "The team pulled out the win collectively, a total team efforton and off the court."
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton heads to Hilton Head Island, S.C., for its annual Spring Break competition trip from March 17-24.