By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — After struggling to get its game in gear in Friday's 9-0 conference loss to Bethel, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's tennis team found its rhythm against St. Thomas the following afternoon.
 
Unfortunately for coach Jeff Halberg, the Cardinals' best wasn't enough against the high-powered Tommies, as St. Thomas dealt Saint Mary's a 7-2 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback at the University of Minnesota Baseline Tennis Center.
 
"We played much better today," Halberg said. "Bobby played extremely well in singles and our No. 2 doubles team had a great match."
 
The Cardinals fell behind 2-1 after the three doubles matches, with Alec Rudh (Hastings, Minn.) and Brandon Kurilla (Hastings, Minn.) delivering an 8-6 victory to account for Saint Mary's victory.
 
Bobby Tiedemann (Euclid, Minn.) recorded a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles, but the Tommies had the upper hand in the other singles matches, surrendering just six games in five straight-set victories.
 
The Cardinals (0-3 MIAC, 4-4 overall) are back in action on Tuesday, squaring off against Hanover in a nonconference match in Orlando, Fla.