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Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CARDINAL ATHLETICS
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Andrew Nyhus

Men's Tennis

Seniors lead charge as Cardinals drop Cobbers

Donny Nadeau, SMU SID | dnadeau@smumn.edu

Bobby Steingraeber returns a shot during Saturday's match vs. Concordia
Match Summary | Photo Gallery | GameDay Preview

WINONA, Minn. — It was Senior Day Saturday afternoon at the Winona Tennis Center, so it was only fitting that seniors led the Saint Mary's University men's and women's tennis team to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victories over Concordia.

Seniors Michael Lunka (Eagan, Minn.), Bobby Steingraeber (La Crosse, Wis.) and Sam Puff (Eden Prairie, Minn.) all picked up wins in singles and doubles to lead the SMU men to a 7-2 MIAC win over the Cobbers, while Rachel Luetmer (Loretto, Minn.) and Deanne Webber (Reedsburg, Wis.) equaled that feat in helping the Cardinal women to a convincing 8-1 victory over CC.

“Both teams played great matches,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. “The men knew this was a must-win  and the senior were determined to come through in their last home match — well, they did so in style. It was great tennis to watch.

“The ladies played their best match of the year, without a doubt,” added Halberg. “An awesome start in doubles and we they just carried it through to the end.”

Lunka, Steingraeber and Puff all recorded straight-set singles wins for the SMU men, while Collin Kaczorowski (Suamico, Wis.) and Gavin Smith (White Bear Lake, Minn.) also added singles wins, with Smith's a three-set, 0-6, 6-0, 10-5 victory at No. 6.

The Cardinal men's fourth senior, Andrew Rangitsch (Oakdale, Minn.) — who dropped a heartbreaking three-set, 0-6, 7-6, 10-6 singles setback — teamed with Kaczorowski for an impressive 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles, with Lunka/Steingraeber adding an 8-6 victory at No. 1.

On the women's side, Webber and Luetmer cruised to straight-set singles win, and teamed for an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles in their final collegiate home match. Kirsten Hoffman (Apple Valley, Minn.)/Katie Krull (Rochester, Minn.) and Grace Zachman (Elk River, Minn.)/Lexi Felten (Waukesha, Wis.) also won in doubles to give SMU a 3-0 lead after doubles, while Hoffman, Krull, and Leanne Cleveland (La Crosse, Wis.) joined Webber and Luetmer as singles winners.

The Cardinal men (3-5 MIAC 15-6 overall), who play North Central later on Saturday, close out their regular season next Saturday, traveling to St. Paul, Minn., for a conference match against Macalester. The SMU women (2-6 MIAC, 8-8 overall) are right back in action on Sunday, traveling to River Falls, Wis., for nonconference matches against UW-River Falls and UW-Stout.

 
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