ST. PETER, Minn. – The No. 22-ranked Carleton College women's tennis team clinched at least a share of the MIAC regular-season crown with an 8-1 victory at No. 36-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College. The Knights improved to 14-0 on the season and 9-0 in MIAC play. This marks the seventh MIAC regular-season title for Carleton, which previously won outright crowns in 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2023 in addition to a shared championship in 2016.
 
The Knights have clinched the top seed in the upcoming MIAC Playoffs and will win the outright conference title with either a win on April 28 at College of Saint Benedict OR losses by both Gustavus and No. 31-ranked Bethel over the final week of the regular season.
 
Kat Smiricinschi and Ryann Witter earned the first team point for Carleton on Saturday with an 8-1 victory at No. 3 doubles. They are now 10-0 this season as a tandem. Amelia Asfaw and Mary Hose, the No. 8-ranked duo in the Central Region, improved to 9-0 as they followed with an 8-4 triumph atop the lineup. Mariam Nechiporuk and Ingrid Smith completed the doubles sweep with an 8-6 victory at the second slot, the pair's seventh win on the year.
 
Hose improved to 12-1 in solo play as she made quick work of her opponent at No. 2 singles, giving the Knights a 4-0 lead after securing a 6-0, 6-0 victory. Carleton then added four more straight set victories.
 
Asfaw held off a late rally from Molly Austin at No. 1 singles, taking the match by a 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) margin and improving her ledger to 10-0 on the campaign. Miriam Shteyman added a 6-4, 6-4 victory at the fourth slot, earning her 11th win of the year. Kiley Pickens moved to a team-best 14-0 as she contributed a 6-2, 6-4 result at No. 5 singles, and Witter notched a 6-4, 6-3 win at the sixth spot, pushing her record to 8-0 this season.
 
The lone point for Gustavus (10-10, 4-1 MIAC) came via a super tiebreaker at No. 3 singles. Kaya Debruijn held off Nechiporuk by a 7-6 (7-2), 1-6, 1-0 (10-6) score.
 
Carleton has now won its last 26 matches against MIAC opponents (regular season and postseason) dating back to April 16, 2022. Carleton is now 52-3 overall spanning the last three seasons, with each setback coming against a nationally-ranked opponent, including two losses to teams ranked No. 1 team in the country.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton wraps up the regular season at College of Saint Benedict on Sunday, April 28, and a win–depending on other matches around the league during the coming week–could clinch the MIAC regular-season title for the Knights.