Box Score

WINONA, Minn. — When it came to Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against nationally ranked Gustavus, Saint Mary's University men's tennis coach Jeff Halberg wasn't worried about the final score.

It was the matches within the match that kept Halberg's attention.

"We're just not deep enough to compete against a team like (Gustavus)," Halberg said after the Gusties left the SMU Tennis Center with a 9-0 victory. "Gustavus is probably going to move up to No. 1 (in the next national poll), and they deserve that ranking — they are that good.

"Our goal was to go out and play to the best of our ability, and I felt like we did that."

The Cardinals failed to win a set against the high-powered Gusties. In fact, only Walter Mannino (Chicago, Ill.) managed to win more than two games, falling to GAC's John Kaus 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 at No. 1 singles. The loss snapped the SMU junior's eight-match singles winning streak and was just his second setback in 10 singles matches.

"The final score doesn't tell the whole story," said Halberg, whose team returns to action Sunday, playing host to Saint John's in an MIAC match. "There were several matches that included some long rallies and very good points.

"Hopefully we can regroup and come out ready to go (against the Johnnies)."