Match Summary vs. Bethel

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — In a span of 24 hours, the Saint Mary's University men's tennis team experienced the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows.

The Cardinals, coming off an impressive, streak-snapping 9-0 nonconfernece victory over Northwestern on Friday, found themselves on the opposite end of a 9-0 decision on Saturday, getting shutout by Bethel in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match.

“Give Bethel a ton of credit — they are tough, top-to-bottom,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg, noting that the Royals, who finished third in the conference standings a year ago. “We played some very good tennis — especially at No. 1 and No. 5 singles — we just couldn't match (Bethel's) talent and depth.”

Pawel Szczepkowski (Opolskie, Poland) gave the Royals' Tom Ronning all he could handle at No. 1 singles, before falling 6-1, 7-5, while Andy Weigman (Maple Plain, Minn.) won the first set of his No. 5 singles match against Jordan LaFebre, but dropped the last two sets, 6-2, 10-6.

The Cardinals, who fall to 0-5 in the MIAC and 3-6 overall, return to action Monday, traveling to Martin Luther for a 2 p.m. nonconference match.