By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
ST. PETER, Minn. — Brandon Johnson (St. James, Minn.) and Nolan Smiley (Minnetonka, Minn.) kicked off the second day of the Midwest Open in winning fashion for the Saint Mary's University men's tennis team, as posting a 7-3 win in the tie-breaker to beat Carroll's Sam Fay/Jordan Newell 8-7.
 
That, however, would be the only win the Cardinals would pick up during their final action of the fall season.
 
Johnson/Smiley were eliminated in their second match of the day, falling to Bethel's Luke Wylie/Jacob Lukaria 8-1, while Trevor Smiley/Josh Janssen (Green Bay, Wis.) dropped an 8-3 decision to UW-Whitewater's Matthew Wieden/Caleb Quennemoen 8-3, and Brandon Kurilla (Hastings, Minn.) came up short against Grinell's Adam Burke, 8-1, in singles play.
 
The Cardinals kick off their 2020 spring season on Jan. 24, entertaining Martin Luther in a 5:30 p.m. match at the Winona Tennis Center. Saint Mary's will begin Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play a day later, hosting Carleton at noon, also at the Winona Tennis Center.