WINONA, Minn. — All season, Jeff Halberg has said that his Saint Mary's University tennis teams, when playing at the top of their games, could play with anyone in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

And, through the first half of the season, the Cardinals have proven their head coach right.

The problem is, when the Cardinals aren't at the very top of their game, the going gets a bit rocky.

Like Sunday afternoon against Carleton.

Tyler Stevenson (Neenah, Wis.) posted the lone win on the men's side, while Michele Clarke (Omaha, Neb.) and the doubles team of Jennifer Duffy (Chicago, Ill.)-Angie Beissel (Hastings, Minn.) were the only winners on the women's side, as the regionally ranked Knights cruised to a pair of wins.

"Carleton just plain came out and took it to us," said Halberg, whose men's team dropped an 8-1 decision, while the women's team fell 7-2. "They are a very good team from top to bottom, and they proved today that they deserve their regional ranking."

Stevenson pushed his record to 8-5 at No. 1 singles this season, recording a hard-fought 7-5, 7-5 win over Carleton's Mike Ottum. That, however, was the lone bright spot for the SMU men, who were swept in straight sets in the other six singles matches.

Clarke was the lone singles winner for the Cardinal women, posting her second straight win at No. 6 singles, beating Julie Wahlstrand 1-6, 6-2, 10-8. Duffy and Beissel also had to work a little overtime to get their win at No. 3 doubles, winning 9-8 (2).

"It was a tough match — I don't think it was our best effort of the season, but Carleton played well and deserved to win," said Halberg, whose women's team concluded a four-match-in-five-day stretch going 1-3 to fall to 3-5 in the MIAC and 5-9 overall, while the men's team slipped to 2-5 in conference and 6-7 overall. "We had some good individual performances, but for us to be successful, we need everyone at the top of their game."

Singles
1. Sarah Russell def. Joni Peterson (SMU), 6-0, 6-1
2. Genevieve Philp def. Cassie Czech (SMU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Diane Danforth def. Allison Ast (SMU), 6-1, 6-1
4. Eryn Koch def. Jennifer Duffy (SMU), 6-3, 6-1
5. Alison Gilmore def. Liz Hilke (SMU), 6-1, 6-2
6. Michele Clarke (SMU) def. Julie Wahlstrand, 1-6, 6-2, 10-8

Doubles
1. Danforth/Philp def. Amanda Clark/Peterson (SMU), 8-4
2. Koch/Russell def. Duffy/Czech (SMU), 8-1
3. Duffy/Angie Beissel (SMU) def. Gilmore/Sarah Croake, 9-8 (2)