By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's tennis team got an early, first-hand look at one of the top teams in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Saturday afternoon, as the Cardinals entertained Carleton in the teams' conference opener at the Winona Tennis Center.
 
And that first-half look at the Knights could be summed up in three letters … "Wow."
 
The Knights, who tied a single-season school record with 23 wins a year ago — and squared off against Gustavus in the MIAC Tournament title match for the 10th time in the last 13 seasons — dealt the Cardinals a 9-0 setback.
 
"We played tough in doubles and gave a good account of ourselves in singles," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "That said, Carleton is a tough, tough team and they deserved the win."
 
The Cardinals gave the Knights all they could handle in doubles action, with Trevor Smiley (Minnetonka, Minn.)/Brandon Kurilla (Hastings, Minn.) dropped an 8-3 decision, while Robbie Sobczak (Cloquet, Minn.)/Gabe Graves (Littleton, Colo.) fell 8-4 and Nolan Smiliey (Minnetonka, Minn.)/Josh Janssen (Green Bay, Wis.) suffered an 8-5 setback.
 
The Knights flexed their muscles in singles play, sweeping all six matches in straight sets. Trevor Smiley took Carleton's Lucas Palon to a tiebreaker in the opening set, before falling 7-6 (6), 6-1 at No. 3.
 
The Cardinals (0-1 MIAC, 1-1 overall) play an exhibition match against Iowa Lakes Community College at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Winona Tennis Center, before returning to regular-season action next Saturday, heading to Lifetime Fitness in White Bear Lake, Minn., for a 6:30 p.m. nonconference match against Northwestern.