Box Score

WINONA, Minn. — It's been nine days since the Saint Mary's University women's tennis team last played, knocking off Concordia 5-2 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match.

And it showed.

Fortunately, the Cardinals were able to shake off enough of the rust to post an 8-1 nonconference win over Martin Luther Tuesday afternoon at the SMU Tennis Center.

"You could tell we hadn't played in over a week," said SMU coach Jeff Halberg, whose team improved to 3-5 overall with the win. "We weren't at the top of our game, but we played well enough to win, and that was good to see."

SMU won five of the six singles matches in straight sets, including a 6-0, 6-0 triumph by Becky Newby (Brookfield, Wis.) at No. 4. SMU also swept all three doubles matches, as the teams of Aubrey Hirsch (Topeka, Kan.)-Ann Leeder (Greenfield, Wis.), Newby-Brianna Placek (Greendale, Wis.), and Val Meschke (Pequot Lakes, Minn.)-Sara Clements (La Crosse, Wis.) did not lose more than three games in cruising to 8-3, 8-3 and 8-1 doubles wins, respectively.

"I'm happy with the way we played," Halberg said. "We can play better, but considering we haven't competed in quite awhile, I can't complain.".