Match Summary | GameDay Preview

ST. PETER, Minn. — Talk about jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

The Saint Mary's University men's tennis team went from facing, Carleton, the 2012 MIAC regular-season runner-up, to squaring off against Gustavus — the 24-time defending Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season champion.

Less than 24 hours after dropping a 7-2 decision to the Knights at the Winona Tennis Center on Friday, the Cardinals squared off against the mighty Gusties — and Gustavus was anything but a gracious host.

The Gusties swept all six singles matches in straight sets, while dropping just four games in sweeping the three doubles matches and handing SMU a 9-0 conference setback at the Swanson Tennis Center.

“We played hard,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. “We were just outgunned. There's a reason (Gustavus) is nationally ranked and picked to win the conference again this year — they are very good, and very deep.

“It's been a tough weekend — our guys definitely need a couple day's rest.”

Despite being swept in all six singles matches, several were close — including Colin Kazorowski's (Suamico, Wis.) 7-6, 6-0 loss at No. 6.

“Tip you hat to Gustavus, they played a good match,” said Halberg, whose team is now off until next weekend, when SMU steps out of conference play for an 11 a.m. match against Northwestern on Saturday and a 9 a.m. contest against Loras on Sunday. “I'm proud of the way guys fought — they gave it everything they had.”