ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — For the second day in a row, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's tennis team found themselves staring at a 4-1 deficit Saturday afternoon in their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against Bethel.
And, unfortunately for coach
Jeff Halberg, for the second straight day, the Cardinals' gallant come-from-behind effort fell just short, as Bethel held off the Cardinals 6-3.
"The ladies played very well," said Halberg, whose team dropped a heartbreaking 5-4 decision to St. Catherine Friday evening at the Winona Tennis Center. "The match was in the balance until 10 minutes from the end. We were down 4-1 again, but we did not give in.
"I'm very proud of our fight today."
The Cardinals picked up a win at No. 2 doubles, as
Cassandra Barr (Eau Claire, Wis.) and
Julia Boeve (St. James, Minn.) teamed for an 8-6 victory, but doubles losses at No. 1 and No. 3, and pair of straight-set singles wins gave the Royals a 4-1 lead.
Haley Jorgensen (Fallon, Nev.) and
Marissa Kinzer (Aitkin, Minn.) pulled the Cardinals within one, 4-3 with singles wins—Jorgensen's a straight-set 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 win, while Kinzer rallied from a set down to win 1-6, 6-3, 10-8 at No. 6—but that was as close as the Cardinals would get.
The Cardinals (3-5 MIAC, 7-5 overall) are right back in action on Sunday, traveling to De Pere, Wis., for nonconference matches against Alverno (noon) and St. Norbert (3 p.m.).
