Match SummaryST. JOSEPH, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's tennis team gave Saint Benedict all it could handle Sunday afternoon, but the Blazers—and the difficult playing conditions—proved to be too strong.
Saint Benedict used a 3-0 start in doubles and held off the Cardinals during the six singles matches in handing Saint Mary's a 7-2 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback.
"The ladies played a great match in very tough, windy conditions," said Saint Mary's coach
Jeff Halberg. "We just couldn't quite break through, but we gave it our all, and as a coach, that's all you can ask for."
Saint Benedict outlasted the Cardinals in the three doubles matches, winning 8-6, 8-3 and 8-5 to grab the early 3-0 advantage. Saint Mary's picked up a pair of singles wins—including a three-set marathon from
Ashley Syed (Lewisville, Texas)—but could not catch the high-powered Blazers.
Syed rallied from a set down to beat CSB's Rachel Raden, 4-6, 6-3, 10-2 at No. 5 singles, while
Haley Jorgensen (Fallon, Nev.) chipped in a 7-5, 6-4 victory at No. 4.
The Cardinals (3-6 MIAC, 8-7 overall) are back in action next weekend, hosting St. Olaf in a 5 p.m. conference match on Friday, before entertaining St. Norbert in a 3 p.m. nonconference contest on Saturday. Both matches will be held at the Winona Tennis Center.
