Match Summary

WINONA, Minn. — When it comes to playing St. Catherine, Saint Mary's University women's tennis coach Jeff Halberg is certain of one thing — it's going to be a close, hard-fought match that is going to go right down to the wire.

And Friday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match at the Winona Tennis Center certainly lived up that billing, as the Wildcats got a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles to break a 4-4 tie and lift St. Catherine to a 5-4 victory.

“It's always a close match when we play St. Catherine — and today's match was just another chapter in that annual battle,” said Halberg. “Every year we have a close match against them, and this year was no different.”

The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the three doubles matches, with Bailey Edwards (Fond du Lac, Wis.) and Killian Edwards (Fond du Lac, Wis.) teaming for an 8-5 win at No. 1 to account for SMU's victory. The Cardinals quickly added three singles wins from Bailey Edwards, Andrea Allis (Wells, Minn.) and Abby Voigt (Burnsville, Minn.) to grab a 3-2 lead, but SCU answered with three singles wins of their own — including a match-clinching 7-5, 6-4 win by Lauren Beadnell over Killian Edwards at No. 2 — to seal the win.

“Give St. Catherine credit, they fought hard and played well,” Halberg said. “I am pleased with our effort — I asked them for their best effort and they dug down and gave it everything they had.”

The Cardinals (0-4 MIAC, 4-6 overall) are back in action on Saturday, traveling to St. Peter, Minn., for a 2 p.m. conference match against Gustavus.