By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's tennis team headed into Friday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown against St. Olaf having won back-to-back matches — both by 6-3 counts.
 
The Cardinals may not have been able to notch a third straight 6-3 victory, but they were able to collect a third consecutive victory nonetheless.
 
The Cardinals — who got a straight-set win from Laura Sonday (West St. Paul, Minn.) to break a 4-4 tie and lead Saint Mary's to a 5-4 win over the Oles a year ago — picked up wins in five of the six singles matches, including a pair of three-setters, in cruising to a 7-2 victory over the Oles at the Winona Tennis Center.
 
"This was a big win for the ladies tonight," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "We never take for granted any win in the MIAC — and beating St. Olaf is always a big win.
 
"I'm very pleased for the ladies — hopefully we can come with the same energy (against St. Catherine) tomorrow."
 
The Cardinals picked up a pair of doubles wins to grab an early 2-1 lead, as Sonday and Colleen Lois (Green Bay, Wis.) teamed for an 8-3 win at No. 1 and Julia Boeve (St. James, Minn.) and Ashley Frederickson (St. James, Minn.) added an 8-2 win at No. 3.
 
Sonday and Boeve — along with Madyson Schreiber (Edwardsville, Ill.) — added straight-set wins in their singles matches at No. 1, No. 4, and No. 6, respectively, while Cassandra Barr (Eau Claire, Wis.) and Lois needed a third set in winning their matches. Barr outlasted St. Olaf's Kellis Brandt 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 at No. 2 and Lois rallied from a set down for a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 10-6 victory at No. 3.
 
The Cardinals (2-3 MIAC, 5-5 overall) are right back in action on Saturday, hosting St. Catherine in a conference matchup at the Winona Tennis Center. First serve is slated for noon.