By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University women's tennis  coach Jeff Halberg knew his Cardinals would need to be at their bests when they took the court against Macalester Friday evening.
 
And their best proved to be just enough to get the Cardinals the victory, as Saint Mary's won two of the three doubles matches and picked up three singles wins — including a three-set win by Maggie Frye (Colorado Springs, Colo.) — en route to a 5-4 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory at the Winona Tennis Center.
 
"It was a tough, hard-fought match," said Halberg. "But we had our secret weapon. Sabrina Barr (Cassandra Barr's sister) was our honorary player of the day — she led us in the birds shout before the match and her presence helped carry us to the win."
 
The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles, thanks to 8-3 victories by Colleen Lois (Green Bay, Wis.) and Cassandra Barr (Eau Claire, Wis.) at No. 1 and by Frye and Zoie Becker (St. James, Minn.) at No. 3.
 
Barr, Frye, and Becker then sealed the Cardinal win with singles victories — Barr winning 7-6 (4), 6-1 at No. 2, while Frye delivered a three-set, 6-4, 2-6, 10-5 win at No. 4 and Becker added a 6-3, 6-1 triumph at No. 6.
 
The Cardinals (1-2 MIAC, 5-2 overall) are back in action on Sunday, playing host to Loras in a 3:30 p.m. nonconference match at the Winona Tennis Center.