EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The Carleton College men's tennis team notched its second victory in as many days, going on the road to notch a 7-0 triumph at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The contest was originally slated to be played at the Pat Lamb Tennis Courts but was moved indoors at UWEC's Menard Center due to rain in the forecast.
After taking all three matches to secure the doubles point, the Knights (2-0) grinded out victories in singles to secure the sweep.
Baiyun Jing and
Zach Leslie got Carleton started with a 6-2 triumph at No. 2 doubles.
Jack Rivkin and
Akshay Garapati prevailed 6-4 atop the doubles lineup, while
Ezra Bernhard and
Owen Heidtke won by the same score at the third slot.
"Zach and (Baiyun) are the classic exergonic reaction," said Carleton head coach
Stephan Zweifel, "put those two gentlemen on the same court and you get a lot of energy".
Bernhard had the easiest time in singles, defeating Ethan Leeser by a 6-3, 6-3 margin at the fourth spot. Leslie added a 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 3 singles, and Garapati had the other straight-sets result, edging Billy Hughes by a 7-5, 6-3 tally at No. 2 singles.
Jing and Heidtke both required three sets for victory. Jing edged Pablo Rincon 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 atop the singles lineup, while Heidtke rallied from a set down to prevail 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the sixth slot.
After dropping the opening set at No. 5 singles, Rivkin battled back and outlasted Juan Gallego in a tiebreaker and a super tiebreaker to win 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 1-0 (11-9).
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton heads to the ITA Midwest Regional in St. Peter, Minn. The opening round of play begins on Friday, Sept. 26.
