By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
SARTELL, Minn. — It's been a real rollercoaster ride for the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's tennis team — and the Cardinals' conference match against Saint John's was just another part of the up-and-down journey.
 
The Cardinals entered their conference-finale against the Johnnies riding high following a 6-3 win over Hamline on Friday.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the ride hit a major dip against the Johnnies, as SJU outlasted Saint Mary's in three marathon doubles matches, before completing a 9-0 sweep with six straight-set singles wins.
 
Bobby Tiedemann (Euclid, Minn.) and Brandon Kurilla (Hastings, Minn.) dropped an 8-4 decision at No. 1 doubles, while Trevor Smiley (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Robbie Sobczak (Cloquet, Minn.) came out on the short end of an 8-5 result, and Gabe Graves (Columbine, Colo.) and Alec Rudh (Hastings, Minn.) suffered an 8-3 setback.
 
The Johnnies dropped just 10 games in posting singles wins at Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5, while Smiley lost a 6-4, 7-5 matchup at No. 4, and Graves fell 6-1, 7-6 (3) at No. 6.
 
The Cardinals (1-8 MIAC, 6-11 overall) are back in action on Wednesday, heading to Superior, Wis., for a 3 p.m. nonconference match against UW-Superior.