NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Five days after the match began, the Carleton College women’s tennis team (13-4, 9-0 MIAC) finally closed out the University of St. Thomas by a 6-3 margin, ending what might be the longest contest in program history.
The match began last Friday, but was suspended due to rain. At the time play was interrupted, the Knights held a 4-1 advantage with four singles matches still in doubt.
Kathryn Schmidt (So./Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins) and Erin Gudul (So./North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) were responsible for three of Carleton’s early points. The pair, ranked No. 6 in the central region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, posted an 8-2 triumph at first doubles. In singles action, both posted 6-0, 6-0 sweeps in first and fourth singles respectively.
Carleton also notched an 8-6 win at third doubles from Hannah Goldberg (Sr./North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) and Sarah Thappa (Fy./Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic).
St. Thomas won second doubles 9-8 (7-5).
In the four singles matches that were completed on Wednesday, Carleton’s Bridget Doyle (Fy./Mendota Heights, Minn./Visitation) finished out her opponent, 6-4, 7-2. St. Thomas added points at third and fifth singles.
The final point for Carleton came at sixth singles where Goldberg was declared the winner by default.
The victory sets up a regular-season finale between the top two programs in the conference. Carleton travels to Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday, May 1 for a 1:00 p.m. match that will determine the regular season champion. The teams have already secured the top two spots in the MIAC Playoffs and the first-round bye that goes with that distinction.
