Match Summary | GameDay Preview

WINONA, Minn. — Jeff Halberg has seen his fair share of close matches during his tenure as the Saint Mary's University men's tennis coach, but he'd be hard-pressed to find one that was closer than Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against Hamline.

With four of the six singles matches going three sets — and another needing a set tiebreaker — and two of the three doubles being decided by 8-6 counts, it was certainly no surprise that Saturday's match ended in a 5-4 decision.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it was the Pipers who left the Winona Tennis Center with the hard-earned victory.

"I'm very proud of how the men's team played and I really feel bad for them," said Halberg. "They put in such a great effort in practice and in the match today, it was a bit heartbreaking to see them fall just short. 

"Still, progress has been made; we just need to finish."

Michael Lunka (Eagan, Minn.) and Tim Wolford (Maple Grove, Minn.) collected an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles, but the Pipers won the two 8-6 decisions at No. 2 and No. 3 to take a 2-1 lead heading into the singles portion of the match.

Lunka, Wolford and Sam Puff (Eden Prairie, Minn.) all picked up three-set wins — Lunka winning 6-4, 2-6, 10-2 at No. 1, Wolford collecting a 3-6, 6-2, 10-6 win at No. 2 and Puff outlasting Hamline's Kyle Helgemoe 6-3, 6-7, 10-6 at No. 4 — but the Pipers iced the win with a 7-5, 6-0 win at No. 2, and three-set wins at No. 5 and No. 6.

The Cardinals (0-7 MIAC, 5-9 overall) are back in action on Saturday, traveling to Macalester for a 3 p.m. conference match.