Match Summary vs. Carleton

WINONA, Minn. — That first match of the season is always a little tough.

To have to open the season against one of the teams picked to battle for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title makes it that much tougher.

Just ask the Saint Mary's University men's tennis team.

The Cardinals kicked off their season Satruday at the Winona Indoor Tennis Center against conference powerhouse Carleton — and while SMU was busy shaking off the early season jitters, the Knights appeared to be in midseason form, rolling to a 9-0 dual-meet victory.

“This was a very tough match for our first time out of the blocks,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. “But I was pleased with the overall effort.”

The Knights cruised to straight-set wins in all six singles matches, losing just 14 games in Matches 1-5, while SMU's Brian Kasel (Minneapolis, Minn.) gave the Knights' Sam Megowen all he could handle at No. 6, falling 7-6, 6-2.

Things were much tighter in the three doubles matches, where Carleton came away with 8-4, 8-5 and 9-8 victories, respectively.

“Carleton is an awfully deep team and deserve to be considered among one of the top teams in the conferfence,” Halberg added. “We challenged them in doubles, and showed a lot of fight in singles.  If we play like this all season, we will do just fine.”