Box Score Rochester, Minn: The No. 25 Denison women's tennis team closed out their trip to Minnesota with a top 25 duel against the No. 24 Carleton College Knights. Carleton entered the day with a perfect 5-0 record while outscoring opponents 39-2 through those matchups. The Big Red were able to edge the Knights in a 4-3 decision, which was their first regular season loss since their 2021-22 season. Denison, picking up their second win of the weekend, handed the previously undefeated Carleton squad their first loss of the season, moving them to 5-1. Denison improves to 2-2 on the season.

In doubles play, the Big Red swept all three matches at the hands of duos Peyton Oda and Maia Nowicki who are currently ranked No. 8 in the central region for doubles, Charlotte Johns and Caroline Lopez, and Caroline Kittle and Dasha Chistyakova to take a 1-0 lead.

In singles play, Caroline Kittle recorded the first victory for Denison. After a dominant first set, her opponent took her to a tiebreaker where Kittle ultimately came out on top. Kylie Pickens and Amelia Asfaw were able to tie things up for the Knights with singles victories of their own. Charlotte Johns took her opponent to a third set, ultimately falling 4-6 in the final set to give Carleton a 3-2 lead heading into the final few matches. Caroline Lopez notched a tying point just minutes after Carleton took the lead after a third set victory over Piper Brown, who is ranked No. 20 in the central region for singles.

In the deciding match of the night, Caitlin VanWinkle took on the Knight's Mariam Nechiporuk in a back and forth battle. VanWinkle won the first set and dropped the second. In storybook fashion, both teams anxiously watched as the score of the final set danced back and forth in favor of both players. In the final game, Vanwinkle won 40-0 to secure the 6th set victory and the overall victory for the Big Red.

Up Next
The Big Red travel to Greencastle, Ind. to take on DePauw University on Saturday, March 8, at 11 a.m. ET. 

Doubles:
1. Peyton Oda/Maia Nowicki (DENW) def. Amelia Asfaw/Mariam Nechiporuk (CCW) 7-5
2. Charlotte Johns/Caroline Lopez (DENW) def. Ingrid Smith/Ryann Witter (CCW) 6-4
3. Caroline Kittle/Dasha Chistyakova (DENW) def. Amanda Black/Katerina Smiricinschi (CCW) 6-1


Singles:
1. Amelia Asfaw (CCW) def. Peyton Oda (DENW) 4-6, 6-7
2. Caitlin VanWinkle (DENW) def. Mariam Nechiporuk (CCW) 7-6, 2-6, 6-3
3. Miriam Shteyman (CCW) def. Charlotte Johns (DENW) 2-6, 6-2. 4-6
4. Kiley Pickens (CCW) def. Dasha Chistyakova (DENW) 1-6, 3-6
5. Caroline Kittle (DENW) def. Ryann Witter (CCW) 6-1, 7-5
6. Caroline Lopez (DENW) def. Piper Brown (CCW) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2

Match Notes:
Carleton College 5-1; National ranking 24
Denison University 2-2; National ranking 25
Doubles order: 3, 1, 2
Singles order: 4, 5, 1, 3, 6, 2