ST. PAUL, Minn. — After dropping a 9-0 decision to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference power Gustavus last Sunday, the Saint Mary's University women's tennis team found themselves with a week off between competitions — and nothing to think about but that painful loss to the Gusties.

Which, in the long run, may have been a good thing for the Cardinals — but a bad thing for Hamline.

When the Cardinals did finally get back on the court Sunday against Hamline, SMU took out all its frustrations on the Pipers, picking up four singles wins and a pair of doubles wins en route to a 6-3 MIAC win.

"It was a good effort," said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. "Playing up at Hamline is tough, their surface is a bit slick, but we made the adjustments we needed to make and came up with a solid conference win."

Nicole Hilo (Mendota Heights, Minn.), Amanda Clark (Waseca, Minn.), Allison Ast (Conway Springs, Ark.) and Angie Beissel (Hastings, Minn.) all picked up singles wins for the Cardinals. Hilo, As and Beissel cruised to straight-set wins, while Clark needed a 10-7 win in the third set to prevail at No. 3.

Clark teamed with Joni Peterson (New London, Minn.) for an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles, while Beissel and Cassie Czech (Foley, Minn.) added an 8-1 win at No. 3 doubles.

"After the loss to Gustavus, it was nice to see us bounce back and pick up a win," said Halberg, whose team improves to 2-2 in the MIAC and 2-3 overall. "Hopefully we can keep it rolling now."

Singles
1. Becca Richards (H) def Joni Peterson, 6-0, 6-3
2. Nicole Hilo (SMU) def Hillary Wilson, 6-2, 6-2
3. Amanda Clark (SMU) def Leah Mennis, 6-1, 3-6, 10-7
4. Allison Ast (SMU) def Raphine Mushonga, 6-0, 6-2
5. Kathie Winter (H) def Cassie Czech, 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
6. Angie Beissel (SMU) def Lauri Munoz, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles
1. Peterson/Clark (SMU) def Wilson/Mennis, 8-3
2. Richards/Winter (H) def Hilo/Anna Tomes, 8-4
3. Beissel/Czech (SMU) def Munoz/Jenna McManus, 8-1