WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University tennis coach Jeff Halberg needed just one thing in Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Atheltic Conference matches against Concordia-Moorhead — a break.

After all, a break here or there in one of the six tiebreakers would have been the difference between a pair of heartbreaking losses and a pair of key conference wins.

Unfortunately, the breaks didn't quite fall the Cardinals' way, as SMU dropped both matches — 7-2 by the women and 5-4 by the men.

"We played well in both matches, we just didn't come up with the critical points at the critical times," said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. "Both matches came down to who won the tiebreakers, and we just didn't get the job done."

In the women's match, four of the six singles matches went into a tiebreaker — with Jennifer Duffy (Chicago, Ill.) and Beth Carroll (Chicago, Ill.) winning for SMU. Duffy posted a 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 win at No. 4 singles, while Carroll was a 6-4, 5-7, 10-4 winner at No. 6.

That, however, was the good news for SMU. The bad news was Joni Peterson (New London, Minn.) and Allison Ast (Conway Springs, Kan.) dropped three-setters at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, and Nicole Hilo (Mendota Heights, Minn.) and Dena Bing (Cannon Falls, Minn.) were swept at No. 1 and No. 5 singles, respectively.

Concordia then swept the three doubles matches to close out the match.

Tiebreakers were the order of the day for the SMU men as well, as Geoff Granseth (Winona, Minn.) picked up a 3-6, 6-3, 10-4 win at No. 1 singles, while Brad Reichuber (Mahtomedi, Minn.) was on the losing end of a 7-5, 6-7, 7-3 decision at No. 3 singles.

Granseth and Reichuber teamed up for an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles, while Mark Leeder (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Bryan Haville (Onalaska, Wis.) posted an 8-4 win at No. 2.

Concordia, however, retaliated with wins at No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 singles, and No. 3 doubles to complete the 5-4 win — the fifth time this season that the Cardinals have been involved in a 5-4 decision.

"It's really coming down to a break here or there," Halberg said of his men's team, which has gone 2-3 in games decided by a 5-4 decision. "We're coming close — we just can't seem to get over the hump."

Singles
1. Erica Tollefson (C) d. Nicole Hilo, 6-1, 6-2
2. Natalie Hausia (C) d. Joni Peterson, 6-3, 4-6, 10-4
3. Donita Olson (C) d. Allison Ast, 1-6, 6-0, 12-10
4. Jennifer Duffy (SMU) d. Liz Meschke, 6-3, 4-6, 10-4
5. Jess Strey (C) d. Dena Bing, 6-3, 6-4
6. Beth Carroll (SMU) d. Miriam Wilshim, 6-4, 5-7, 10-4

Doubles
1. Tollefson-Hausia (C) d. Hilo-Peterson, 8-3
2. Olson-Meschke (C) d. Duffy-Angie Beissel, 1-0, retired
3. Strey-Wilshim (C) d. Bing-Carroll, 9-8, 9-7