WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's tennis team wasn't able to put an end to nationally ranked Gustavus' season-opening winning streak Saturday afternoon, but the Cardinals were able to do something no other team has been able to do this season—pick up a singles and a doubles win off the high-powered Gusties.
 
"That was an awesome match," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg after watching his Cardinals fall to the 27-time defending conference champion Gusties 7-2 at the Winona Tennis Center. "We played very well, and gave (Gustavus) all they could handle.
 
"I'm proud of the effort we put out there against one of the best teams in the country."
 
Gustavus, ranked No. 18 in the ITA national poll, entered Saturday's match having won its first three contests by identical 9-0 scores—including straight-set wins in all 18 singles matches.
 
That all changes against the Cardinals.
 
Collin Kaczorowski (Suamico, Wis.) and Blake Olmscheid (Farmington, Minn.) got the Cardinals on the board with an 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles, while the Gusties picked up 8-2 wins in the other two doubles matches to grab a 2-1 lead.
 
GAC picked up five straight-set singles wins, but Warren Lawrenz (Rochester, Minn.) wasn't about to let the Gusties sweep through the six singles matches, as the Cardinal senior won a marathon three-setter, ralling from a 9-1 deficit in the third set to beat Taylor Parr 7-5, 1-6, 12-10.
 
The Cardinals (0-2 MIAC, 4-3 overall) are right back on the court Saturday afternoon, hosting Martin Luther in a nonconference match at the Winona Tennis Center.
 
 
The Cardinals got a win at No. 1 doubles, and a marathon, three-set victory at No. 4 singles, but it would not be enough