Men's Match Summary / Women's Match Summary

WINONA, Minn. — It wasn't quite the start Saint Mary's University tennis coach Jeff Halberg was hoping for, but considering the opposition, he wasn't all that disappointed, either.

The Cardinal men managed just a doubles win from their No. 1 team of Walter Mannino (Chicago, Ill.) and Tom Vollman (Oak Park, Ill.) in an 8-1 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference loss to Carleton Saturday afternoon at the SMU Tennis Center, while the SMU women picked up wins at No. 3  singles and No. 1 doubles in a 7-2 loss to the Knights.

"I thought both teams competed very well," said Halberg. "(Carleton) is one of the top teams in our conference and it's certainly a tough way for us to open the season, but I was pretty pleased with the way we performed."

The Knights swept all six of the men's singles matches in straight sets, while Mannino and Vollman posted a 9-8 victory at No. 1 doubles for the Cardinals' lone win.

Toni Troumbly (Bovey, Minn.) rallied from a set down to beat Carleton's Hannah Clemons 6-7, 6-1, 10-6, while Aubrey Hirsch (Topeka, Kan.) and Kayla Lenz (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) teamed for an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles.

"There were a lot of good tennis out there today — several of the matches could have easily gone the other way," said Halberg, noting that Brittney Nielsen (Apple Valley, Minn.) lost a marathon match at No. 4 singles, falling 5-7, 6-3, 13-11. "We've still got a lot of work to do, but it was a solid, if not spectacular, start to the season."