Match Summary | GameDay Preview

ORLANDO, Fla. — The final score may have made it look easy, but the Saint Mary's University men's tennis team's 8-1 win over Berry Tuesday was anything but.

“The guys played an awesome match,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. “Despite what the final score says, this was a battle from start to finish.”

The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the three doubles matches — highlighted by Michael Lunka (Eagan, Minn.) and Bobby Steingraeber (La Crosse, Wis.) rallying from a 5-0 deficit to win 8-6 at No. 1.

It was more of the same in singles, as the Cardinals collected wins at Nos. 1-5, including three-setters from Steingraeber and Sam Puff (Eden Prairie, Minn.). Steingraeber played what Halberg called (the best match of his collegiate career), rallying from one set down to win 4-6, 6-1, 10-5 at No. 2, while Puff rallied from a 3-0 hole with 10 straight points in the third-set tiebreaker for his 6-4, 1-6, 10-3 win at No. 1.

“It was good to see the guys really battle today,” said Halberg, whose Cardinals (7-3 overall) close out their spring trip on Wednesday, squaring off against Morningside College. “We had some really amazing matches — and the guys were rewarded for their efforts with a big win.”