Match Summary | GameDay Preview

SARTELL, Minn. — Saint Mary's University men's tennis coach Jeff Halberg knew the key to Sunday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against Saint John's would be getting off to a quick start.

Saint John's, however, had other ideas, as the Johnnies won all three doubles matches and held off a furious Cardinal comeback in handing SMU a 6-3 conference setback at Fitness Evolution.

“We knew it was going to be important to get off to a good start in doubles,” Halberg said. “Unfortunately, we fell behind 3-0 (after the three doubles matches) — even though we had the lead at No. 3 and had a match point at No. 1.

“The guys fought like crazy to get back into it in the singles portion, we just couldn't dig out of that early hole.”

Bobby Steingraeber (La Crosse, Wis.), Sam Puff (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Collin Kaczorowski (Suamico, Wis.) accounted for SMU's three singles wins, with Puff posting a straight-set, 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 2, while Steingraeber outlasted SJU's Connor Rust 6-4 3-6, 10-7 at No. 3 and Kaczorowski picked up a 6-2, 2-6, 10-1 win over Zach Sheiwise at No. 5.

The Cardinals (2-6 MIAC, 14-7 overall) are back in action on Saturday, when they square off against Concordia and North Central (Minn.) at the Winona Tennis Center.