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WINONA, Minn. — The 5-4 final score didn't even come close to explaining just how close Friday's Saint Mary's University-Bethel University men's tennis match was.

All three doubles matches went the maximum 8-6 — or more — while one of the six singles matches went the three-set distance.

Fortunately for the Cardinals, the three, nail-biting doubles matches all went their way, as the SMU outlasted the Royals 5-4 at the Winona Tennis Center.

“What a great way to start the conference season,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg, whose team improved to 8-4 overall — with the first 11 matches all coming in nonconference play. “That was a huge, huge win for us.”

The Cardinals posted come-from-behind wins in all three doubles matches, with Michael Lunka (Eagan, Minn.) and Bobby Steingraeber (La Crosse, Wis.) rallying from a 1-6 deficit to post a 9-8 win at No. 1 doubles — extending their season-opening winning streak to 12 straight.

Andrew Rangitsch (Oakdale, Minn.) and Sam Puff (Eden Prairie, Minn.) chipped in an 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles, while Gavin Smith (White Bear Lake, Minn.) and Justin Loeffler (Winona, Minn.) added another 8-6 win at No. 3.

Smith and Loeffler added straight-set singles wins — Smith 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5 and Loeffler 6-1, 6-4 at No. 6 — to seal the win for the Cardinals.

SMU (1-0 MIAC, 8-4 overall) are right back in action on Saturday, hosting Saint John's in a noon conference match at the Winona Tennis Center.