By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's tennis coach Jeff Halberg has been around collegiate athletics for a long time — and the Bethel team his Cardinals squared off against Friday evening was, in his words, "the best Bethel team I've seen in my 27 years of coaching."
 
And Halberg's Cardinals got a first-hand look at just how good this year's Bethel squad is, as the Royals dropped just two games in the three doubles matches and won all six singles contests in straight sets in dealing Saint Mary's a 9-0 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback at the U of M Baseline Tennis Center.
 
"That's one deep, talented (Bethel) team," Halberg said. "Their No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams were absolutely fantastic. The ladies competed hard, but this was a bridge too far for them today."
 
Bethel raced out to a 3-0 lead in doubles, winning 8-1, 8-0, and 8-1, before completing the sweep with six straight-set singles wins. Bethel did not lose more than three games in any of the 12 singles sets.
 
The Cardinals (0-2 MIAC, 2-3 overall) are right back in action on Saturday, returning to the U of M Baseline Tennis Center for a conference showdown against St. Thomas. Match time is slated for noon.