ROGERS, Minn. — It's been a long time since the Saint Mary's University women's tennis team had taken the court for a competitive match — 376 days, to be exact.
 
And the Cardinals could hardly wait to take the court Friday night, squaring off against Bethel in the teams' season- and conference-opener.
 
Unfortunately, the Royals decided to rain on the Cardinals return-to-action parade.
 
Bethel posted five, straight-set singles wins and swept through the three doubles matches in deal the Cardinals an 8-1 setback in the teams' Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener at the Rogers Tennis Center.
 
"We started a little slow tonight but really picked it up in the singles play," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "Zoie (Becker) had a great win — and despite the loss, I was encouraged by the overall effort."
 
Zoie Becker (St. James, Minn.) outlasted Bethel's Sydeny Rott, 7-6 (4), 6-4 at No. 5 singles, but that would prove to be the only victory for the Cardinals, who dropped the other five singles matches in straight sets. Bethel completed the win with 8-1, 8-0, 8-1 victories in doubles play.
 
The Cardinals (0-1 MIAC, 0-1 overall) are right back on the court on Saturday, as Saint Mary's returns home to the Winona Tennis Center for a 12:30 p.m. nonconference match against Loras.