Match Summary | GameDay Preview

OWATONNA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University women's tennis coach Jeff Halberg has seen his Cardinals accomplish several first this season — and Saturday afternoon, SMU added one more.

The Cardinals, regionally ranked for the first time in Halberg's tenure as head coach, not to mention boasting the region's eighth-ranked doubles team — again a first under Halberg — picked up their first win over St. Olaf since Halberg took over 14 years ago.

SMU, fueled by three-set singles wins by McKennah Edwards (Fond du Lac, Wis.) and Deanne Weber (Reedsburg, Wis.), held off the Oles 5-4 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match at the Owatonna Indoor Tennis Center.

“That was a huge, huge win,” said Halberg. “We played an outstanding match, and got some clutch performances from McKennah and Deanne — McKennah came back from three match points to win at No. 1 (singles) and Deanne sealed the win with her win at No. 6.

“It was a just a great win all the way around.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the three doubles matches, as Bailey Edwards (Fond du Lac, Wis.) and McKennah Edwards won 8-4 at No. 1, while Killian Edwards (Fond du Lac, Wis.) and Lexi Felten (Waukesha, Wis.) were 8-6 winners at No. 3.

Lindsey Reinisch (Hastings, Minn.) tallied a straight-set win at No. 5 singles, with McKennah Edwards winning 6-3, 4-6, 12-10 at No. 1 and Weber sealing the win with her 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 victory at No. 6.

The Cardinals (3-5 MIAC, 11-9 overall) are right back in action on Sunday, as they host Macalester in a 2 p.m. match at the Winona Tennis Center. It is the final regular-season collegiate match for SMU seniors Bailey Edwards and Abby Voigt (Burnsville, Minn.).