Match Summary | GameDay Preview

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's tennis team got a first-hand look at just how good Gustavus is Friday evening.

The Gusties entered the Winona Tennis Center boasting a perfect 5-0 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record — not to mention the No. 4 ranking in the latest ITA Central Region poll and a No. 24 ranking in all of Division III — and exited with a 9-0 victory over the Cardinals.

“Wow! Gustavus showed us what they had tonight,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. “They are a great team and they showed they are deserving of their regional and national rankings.”

GAC jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the three doubles matches — including an 8-3 win by Amrik Donkena and Mya Smith-Dennis at No. 1 doubles that snapped the 13-match winning streak of SMU's Michael Lunka (Eagan, Minn.) and Bobby Steingraeber (La Crosse, Wis.).

The Gusties then completed the sweep with straight-set wins in all six singles matches.

“I thought we played some pretty good tennis, (Gustavus) was just had a little more punch than we did,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg, whose Cardinals are back in action on Sunday, traveling to Moorhead, Minn., for a 9 a.m. conference match against the Cobbers. “Hopefully we can quickly put this match behind us and be focused and ready for Sunday.”