By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's tennis team steps out of conference play on Friday, heading to Lifetime Fitness for a 6:30 p.m. nonconference match against Northwestern (Minn.).
 
The Matchup:
• Saint Mary's Cardinals (1-1 Overall) at Northwestern Eagles (2019: 15-9 Overall)
 
Last Action:
• Saint Mary's — January 24-25, 2020 * Winona Tennis Center * Winona, Minn.: The Cardinals kicked off the 2020 season by going 1-1 in its two matches last weekend — opening with a 9-0 nonconference victory over Martin Luther, before dropping a 9-0 decision to nationally ranked Carleton in the teams' MIAC opener | MLC Recap * Carleton Recap
• Northwestern — Friday's match against Saint Mary's is the Eagles' 2020 season-opener. 
 
Saint Mary's vs. Northwestern  — Their Last Meeting:
• February 1, 2019 * Winona Tennis Center * Winona, Minn.: Saint Mary's picked up its second win of the season, dropping Northwestern — an NCAA national tournament qualifier a year ago — 7-2 in a nonconference match | Recap
 
Up Next:
• Saint Mary's: The Cardinals are back in action next weekend with three matches in a three-day span. Saint Mary's will face Lawrence at 7 p.m. at Western RC in Green Bay, Wis., on Friday, before heading to the Four Seasons RC in Green Bay, Wis., for an 11 a.m. nonconference match against Ripon the following morning. The Cardinals will then return home to the Winona Tennis Center on Sunday for an 8 a.m. match against UW-Superior.
• Northwestern: The Eagles are back in action on Feb. 8, heading to Sta-Fit in St. Joseph, Minn., for a 1 p.m. nonconference match against Saint John's.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals: 
2020 Roster | 2020 Schedule | 2020 Statistics
• The Cardinals picked up five of their seven wins last season on their home courts at the Winona Tennis Center. … With their season-opening win over Martin Luther, the Cardinals improved to 14-0 all-time against the Knights — including seven 9-0 wins in their last eight contests. … The Cardinals are now 61-23 in nonconference matches since 2012. … The Cardinals' three doubles teams dropped just three games combined against Martin Luther last Friday. … Saint Mary's won five of the six singles matches against Martin Luther in straight sets, including a 6-0, 6-0 win over Sobczak at No. 1. … Josh Janssen (Green Bay, Wis.) recorded his first collegiate singles wins with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 5 singles against the Knights last Friday. 
 
Scouting The Northwestern Eagles:
2020 Roster | 2020 Schedule | 2019 Final Statistics
• The Eagles enter their season-opener against Saint Mary's on the heels of a 15-9 season a year ago — including a 6-1 mark in UMAC play and a berth in the UMAC Tournament title match, where they fell to St. Scholastica 8-1. … With their showing in 2019, the Eagles have now reaching the UMAC Tournament title match in each of the last 10 seasons. … Northwestern was picked to finish second in the 2020 UMAC Preseason Coaches Poll, finishing six points back of No. 1 St. Scholastica. … Northwestern boasted five players with 10 or more singles wins a year ago — Landon Ridpath (15), Austin Brickler (15), Isaac Velgersdyk (14), Matthew Wedin (13), and Davis Pfaff (11). … Ridpath played all but one match at No. 1 singles a year ago, finishing 15-8. … Brickler picked up 14 of his 15 singles wins at No. 3, posting a 14-9 mark. He was also 1-0 at No. 2. … Wedin closed out 2019 winning his last eight singles matches. … Ridpath closed out the year with a team-leading 17 doubles wins, followed by Pfaff (16), Tyrus Studenr (16), Brickler (15), and Wedin (12). … As a team, Northwestern went 85-59 in singles play last season — including 15-9 at No. 1 and 15-7 at both No. 5 and No. 6. … In doubles play, the Eagles boasted a 47-25 overall record — including 17-7 at No. 2 and 16-8 at No. 1.