Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Jeff Halberg doesn't hold a grudge — but he doesn't forget, either.

And the Saint Mary's University women's tennis team's 5-4 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference loss to Hamline a year ago is one match Halberg remembers all too well.

Thursday afternoon, the Cardinals got their revenge.

Fueled by wins in four of the six singles matches — including a pair of three-setters — the Cardinals notched a 6-3 victory over the Pipers.

"We had (Hamline) right where we wanted them last year, leading 4-2 heading into the doubles matches, and we lost all three to lose the match," said Halberg. "We were determined not to let that happen again (Thursday).

"And we didn't."

The teams played doubles first this time around, with SMU getting wins at No. 2 and No. 3 to take a 2-1 lead into the six singles matches.

Ann Leeder (Greenfield, Wis.), Val Meschke (Pine River, Minn.), Toni Troumbly (Bovey, Minn.) and Brittney Nielsen (Apple Valley, Minn.) were all victorious to seal the win. Leeder and Meschke cruised to easy wins — Leeder winning 6-1, 6-1, while Meschke was a 6-0, 6-0 winner — while both Troumbly and Nielsen dropped the first set, only to rebound to win the next two.

"I thought we played very well today," said Halberg. "This was a very good Hamline team — even better than last year — and it took a solid effort on our part to get past them."