By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The start of the 2020 season has unveiled a rather interesting pattern for the Saint Mary's University men's tennis team.
 
The Cardinals opened the season with a 9-0 win over Martin Luther, and followed that up with a 9-0 loss to nationally ranked Carleton. Saint Mary's then picked up its second win of the year with a 6-3 victory over Northwestern last Friday, only to suffer a — you guessed it — 6-3 loss to Lawrence Friday evening.
 
"It was a real battle," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "The guys put up a heck of a fight."
 
The Cardinals were staring at a 3-0 deficit after the doubles play — but could have just as easily been winning 3-0. Brandon Kurilla (Hastings, Minn.) and Trevor Smiley (Minnetonka, Minn.) suffered an 8-7 (5) loss at No. 1 doubles, while Robbie Sobczak (Cloquet, Minn.) and Gabe Graves (Littleton, Colo.) also fell 8-7 (5) at No. 2, and Josh Janssen (Green Bay, Wis.) and Nolan Smiley (Minnetonka, Minn.) lost 8-3.
 
Trevor Smiley outlasted Lawrence's Cade Fromcour 6-3, 5-7, 10-5 at No. 3 singles, while Graves added a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 4 and Janssen added a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 5.
 
The Cardinals (2-2 overall) are right back in action on Saturday, heading to the Four Seasons RC in Green Bay, Wis., for an 11 a.m. nonconference match against Ripon.