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WINONA, Minn. — It may have been their season opener, but the Saint Mary's University men's tennis team appeared to be in mid-season form Saturday afternoon, as the Cardinals kicked off their season with an 8-1 nonconference win over the Milwaukee School of Engineering at the Winona Tennis Center.

Things didn't go quite as well in the Cardinals' second match of the day, as Luther handed SMU a 7-2 setback at the Winona Tennis Center.

“We played pretty well for our first matches of the season,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. “Luther is a very talented team — they're ranked No. 11 in the region — and their depth was just a little too much for us.”

SMU raced out to a 3-0 lead against MSOE, winning all three doubles matches, including a 9-7 victory by Sam Puff (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Andrew Rangitsch () at No. 2.

The Cardinals then completed the win with straight-set wins in four of the sixth singles matches, with Bobby Steingraeber (La Crosse, Wis.) adding a three-set, 6-3, 3-6, 13-11 marathon at No. 2.

Steingraeber completed his perfect 4-0 day against Luther, teaming with Michael Lunka (Eagan, Minn.) for n 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles, then adding a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 2 singles to account for SMU's two wins vs. the high-powered Norse.

The Cardinals (1-1 overall) are back in action next Sunday, Feb. 12, when they host Edgewood (9 a.m.) and Martin Luther (3 p.m.) in a pair of nonconference matches at the Winona Tennis Center.