By EMILY LOOF
Saint Mary's Sports Information Intern
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's tennis team entered Friday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown with St. Thomas hoping to break their two-match losing streak.
 
Unfortunately, the Tommies had other ideas, as the St. Thomas dealt the Cardinals an 8-1 setback at Winona Tennis Center.
 
Robbie Sobczak (Cloquet, Minn.) and Alex Holm (Red Wing, Minn.) combined for the Cardinals' sole win at No. 2 doubles, winning 8-4.
 
Brenden Amiotte (Rapid City, S.D.) and Bobby Tiedemann (Euclid, Minn.) dropped an 8-6 decision at No. 1 doubles, while Alec Rudh (Hastings, Minn.) and Alex Zuzek (Hastings, Minn.) fell 8-1 at No. 3 doubles.
 
In singles matches, the Tommies were just as powerful, as all the Cardinals fell in straight sets.
 
"The guys started off well, but Amiotte and Tiedemann's close loss at doubles kind of took the wind out of our sails," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "Still, everyone fought hard tonight. Credit to St. Thomas, they are a great team."
 
The Cardinals are back in action, Friday as they entertain North Central (Minn.) in a nonconference matchup at 6 p.m. at the Winona Tennis Center. They then travel to Fargo, N.D., on Saturday for a 9:30 a.m. conference showdown against Concordia at Courts Plus.