Match Summary

LAKEVILLE, Minn. — In a season where holding a lead has been their Achilles' heel, the Saint Mary's University women's tennis team raced out to a 3-0 lead after the three doubles matches, and clamped a vise grip on it, as the Cardinals cruised to a 6-3 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Bethel at Lakeville Lifetime Fitness.

“We have had a our share of matches where we couldn't hold on to a lead — tonight we got the lead and we kept it,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. “We played great, top-to-bottom.

“It was a total team effort.”

The Cardinals made it look easy in sweeping the three doubles matches, as Bailey Edwards (Fond du Lac, Wis.)-Abby Voigt (Burnsville, Minn.) won 8-5 at No. 1 doubles, while Grace Zachman (Elk River, Minn.)-Emily DeWitt (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Andrea Allis (Wells, Minn.)-Sarah Kennedy (Lake City, Minn.) chipped in 8-4 and 8-2 wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, respectively.

Bailey Edwards, Allis and Kennedy then chipped in straight-set singles wins, as the Cardinals picked up their first conference win of the season and snapped a three-match losing streak in the process.

SMU (1-5 MIAC, 5-7 overall) is back in action on Saturday, as the Cardinals host Concordia in a noon conference match and then entertain Winona State in a 5 p.m. nonconference contest. Both matches will be played at the Winona Tennis Center.