WINONA, Minn. —
Jeff Halberg likes the make-up of his Saint Mary's University men's tennis team.
When they are at full strength, Halberg sees the Cardinals giving every team in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference a fight to the finish.
When they're not, now that's another story.
Playing without two of their top six singles players, the Cardinal men were no match for St. Thomas, as the Tommies swept all six singles matches in straight sets en route to an 8-1 MIAC win over the Cardinals Friday afternoon at St. T's Tennis and Sports.
"Without Geoff (Granseth) and Dan Fahey, we knew going in that this match was going to be an uphill battle," admitted Halberg, "But I thought the guys gave it a very good effort. St. Thomas is an extremely solid team, and to come away with a point (in doubles), that's a feather in our caps."
Tyler Stevenson (Neenah, Wis.) and Mark Leeder (Greenfield, Wis.) accounted for the Cardinals' lone win, teaming up at No. 1 doubles for an 8-6 victory.
On the women's side, the Cardinals could not match up with the nationally ranked Tommies, who cruised to a 9-0 win.
Christina Tobin (Oak Park, Ill.) won the first set in her match at No. 2 singles, but lost the second 6-4 and fell in the third 10-8. No other SMU singles player won more than one game as thge Tommies handed the SMU women their second straight loss.
"It was a good effort," Halberg said. "Many of the matches were closer than the score indicates."
Singles
1. Sara Lee def.
Joni Peterson 6-0, 6-0
2. Katie Miettanen def.
Christina Tobin 4-6, 6-4, 10-8
3. Jodi Dmoboski def.
Amanda Clark 6-4, 6-1
4. Julie Wieden def.
Allison Ast 6-1, 6-0
5. Becky Bell def. Angie Beissel 6-0, 6-1
6. Tiffany Weaver def.
Cassie Czech 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Wieden/Dmoboski def. Peterson/Clark 8-4
2. Lee/Miettanen def. Beissel/
Jennifer Duffy 8-4
3. Bell/Weaver def. Ast/Czech 8-1