By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — It was match No. 3 in three days for the Saint Mary's University women's tennis team.
 
The Cardinals' opponent, meanwhile, had yet to play a regular-season match this season.
 
And fully energized Gustavus proved to be too much for the weary Cardinals, as the Gusties — ranked No. 39 in NCAA Division III — dealt Saint Mary's a 9-0 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback Sunday at the Winona Tennis Center.
 
"I was really pleased with our level of play and overall effort," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "Gustavus is a great team and we gave them a battle today."
 
Gustavus raced out to a 3-0 lead after doubles, dropping just eight games — including posting an 8-6 win over Saint Mary's Kennedy Morgan (Green Bay, Wis.)/Kailee Johnson (Rochester, Minn.) at No. 2.
 
And the Gusties continued to flex their muscles in singles play, posting straight-set wins in all six matches.
 
After this weekend's three-match marathon, the Cardinals (0-2 MIAC, 4-2 overall) are back in action with a pair of home matches next weekend at the Winona Tennis Center. Saint Mary's will host Macalester in a 7 p.m. conference contest on Friday, before entertaining Loras in a 3:30 p.m. contest on Sunday.