By Donny Nadeau
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's tennis team knew exactly what they needed to do Sunday afternoon in their regular-season finale against Saint Benedict.
 
A win against the Blazers and the Cardinals were in good position to earn their second straight Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoff invitation.
 
Unfortunately for coach Jeff Halberg and the Cardinals, Saint Benedict had to rain on their parade.
 
The Blazers held off the Cardinals' comeback attempt, getting a 6-2, 7-6 (3) win at No. 2 singles to seal a 5-4 victory at the Winona Tennis Center.
 
"That was an incredible match to end the season," said Halberg. "it definitely could have gone either way, but you have to give Saint Ben's credit, they played an awesome match.
 
"The ladies fought with everything they had and I have nothing but praise and admiration for the way they played today—and all season long."
 
The Blazers jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the doubles portion of the conference showdown, with the Cardinals getting an 8-5 win from Laura Sonday (West St. Paul, Minn.) and Colleen Lois (Green Bay, Wis.) at No. 1.
 
Lois, Julia Boeve (St. James, Minn.), and Ashley Frederickson (St. James, Minn.) chipped in singles wins for the Cardinals—Boeve's straight-set win at No. 4 was her career-high 10^th straight singles victory—but the Saint Mary's rally would fall one win short.
 
"Everyone played really well today—it was a classic women's tennis match," Halberg said. "Unfortunately, St. Ben's played just a bit better than we did."
 
With the loss, the Cardinals close the season 4-6 in conference play, while going 12-9 overall.