ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The No. 39-ranked Carleton College women's tennis team took over the top spot in the MIAC standings following a 9-0 victory over No. 24-ranked Bethel University.
 
Entering the day, Bethel (13-1, 3-1 MIAC) was listed at No. 4 in the Central Region, while the Knights (11-0, 6-0 MIAC) did not crack the top 10. Carleton, however, looked like a dominant squad in handing the Royals their first setback of the season.
 
Carleton improved to 49-3 (.942) over the last three seasons, with two of those three losses coming to the No. 1 team in the nation during the NCAA Championships.
 
This afternoon, rookies Kat Smircinschi and Ryann Witter set the tone early, breezing to an 8-0 victory at No. 3 doubles. Mariam Nechiporuk and Ingrid Smith notched an 8-4 triumph at the second slot and moments later Carleton completed the doubles sweep as Mary Hose and Amelia Asfaw—the No. 9-ranked tandem in the Central Region—prevailed atop the lineup by an identical 8-4 tally.
 
Witter extended the Knights lead to 4-0 as she cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 result at No. 6 singles, and Hose secured the team result with her 6-1, 6-1 triumph at the second slot. Kiley Pickens improved to 11-0 on the year as she added a 6-1, 6-2 victory at the fifth spot in the lineup.
 
What was projected to be a tight battle at No. 1 singles did not end up that way. In a battle of regionally-ranked players, Asfaw (No. 11) bested Lauryn Douglas (No. 10) by a 6-3, 6-0 score.
 
Nechiporuk edged Julia Baber 6-4, 6-4 at the third spot, and Miriam Shteyman completed the sweep with a super tiebreaker triumph by a 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-2) tally.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton closes the home portion of the regular season by hosting crosstown foe St. Olaf College on Wednesday, April 10.