ST. PETER, Minn. — It was a good news, bad news type of day for the Saint Mary's University women's tennis team at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Friday.

The good news — SMU opened the tourney with a 6-3 victory over Bethel.

The bad news — the win earned the Cardinals a second-round spot opposite MIAC and NCAA Division III powerhouse Gustavus, which was coming off its 12th consecutive undefeated MIAC regular season.

And despite the fact that Gustavus was hosting this year's conference tournament, the Gusties were anything but gracious hosts, as they handed SMU a 9-0 setback.

Joni Peterson (New London, Minn.), Amanda Clark (Waseca, Minn.), Cassie Czech (Foley, Minn.) and Allison Ast (Conway Springs, Kan.) all notched straight-set singles wins in SMU's 6-3 triumph over Bethel, while Peterson and Czech, and Beissel and Jennifer Duffy (Chicago, Ill.) were 8-6 winners and No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, respectively.

There were plenty of straight-set victories in SMU's second match of the day, as well. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it was the Gusties doing all the winning.

SMU managed to win just nine games in the six singles matches — four of which came in Ast's 6-4 loss in the first set at No. 6 doubles.

And it wasn't much better in doubles, as GAC cruised to 8-0, 8-0, 8-1 wins.

This year marks the first time in the 22-year history of MIAC women's tennis that the conference has gone to a team dual tournament format to determine the conference champion. In years past, the team champion was determined by the individual play of the schools' participants, as points were awarded based on how far the individuals advanced in the tournament bracket. This year's conference champion will be crowned by virtue of winning three or four consecutive dual matches.

Singles
1. Kris Rosborough (GAC) d. Amanda Clark, 6-0, 6-1
2. Tara Houlihan (GAC) d. Nicole Hilo, 6-0, 6-0
3. Lyndsay Palen (GAC) d. Jonie Peterson, 6-0, 6-2
4. Kara Smiliey (GAC) d. Cassie Czech, 6-0, 6-2
5. Mikaela Schmitt (GAC) d. Angie Beissel, 6-0, 6-0
6. Kathleen Kuzma (GAC) d. Allison Ast, 6-4, 6-0

Doubles
1. Palen-Smiley (GAC) d. Clark-Hilo, 8-0
2. Houlihan-Marla Menne (GAC) d. Czech-Peterson, 8-0
3. Elissa Bashleben-Rosborough (GAC) d. Beissel-Jennifer Duffy, 8-1