Match Summary | GameDay Preview

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's tennis team got off to a flying start and then held on to post a key, 5-4 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Hamline Friday evening at the HU Courts.

“This was a big win for us,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. “We got out to a fast start in the doubles and then held the Pipers off down the stretch. Hamline fought like crazy to get back in the match, but, in the end, we had just enough in the tank to pull out the win.”

The Cardinals grabbed an early 3-0 lead, winning all three doubles matches, but the Pipers clawed back, winning four of the first five singles matches — including three-set wins at No. 1 and No. 5 — to tie things at 4-4.

Sam Puff (Eden Prairie, Minn.) then sealed the win for the Cardinals, rallying from 7-1 down in the third-set tiebreaker to beat Sam Tettelbaum 2-6, 6-2, 12-10 at No. 2 singles.

“Sam's match was amazing,” said Halberg. “He fell behind 7-1 in the third-set tiebreaker, but came back to win 12-10 — he just refused to lose.

“It was a great team effort, and a great team win.”

The Cardinals, who move to 3-3 in the MIAC and 9-7 overall, return to action on Sunday, hosting St. Thomas in an 11 a.m. conference match at the Winona Tennis Center.