Match Summary | GameDay Preview

WINONA, Minn. — It wasn't the way the Saint Mary's University men's tennis team was hoping to write the final chapter to the 2012 season, but Cardinal coach Jeff Halberg certainly can't fault the effort.

“We came so close,” said Halberg after watching his Cardinals come up just short in dropping a 5-4 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference decision to Macalester Sunday at the Winona Tennis Center. “Everyone put in a supreme effort, we just came up a bit short.

“I'm proud of the way the guys fought — they gave it everything they had.”

SMU jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the three doubles matches, as Michael Lunka (Eagan, Minn.) and Bobby Steingraeber (La Crosse, Wis.) picked up their 19th win in 21 matches at No. 1 doubles with an 8-5 victory, while Sam Puff (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Andrew Rangitsch (Oakdale, Minn.) added an 8-3 win at No. 2.

Lunka added a straight-set, 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles and Gavin Smith (White Bear Lake, Minn.) chipped in a 6-3, 6-1 triumph at No. 5, but that would be it for the Cardinals, as Macalester won in straight sets at No. 3, 4 and 6, while Evan Elderbrock outlasted Puff 6-7, 6-4, 10-4 at No. 2 to seal the Scots' win.

The Cardinals closed out the season with a 2-7 record in conference play, and finished 9-12 overall.