WINONA, Minn. — After struggling to get into any type of rhythm in its 9-0 loss to UW-Superior on Friday, the Saint Mary's University men's tennis team put together a more complete performance Saturday in the Cardinals' nonconference matchup against Loras.
Unfortunately, while the Cardinals may have been good, the Duhawks were even better, as Loras won two of the three doubles matches and picked up wins in four of the six singles — including a pair of three-set marathons — in dealing SMU a 6-3 setback at the Winona Tennis Center.
"The guys really improved — top-to-bottom — from last night," said Saint Mary's coach
Jeff Halberg. "Unfortunately, we came up just short against a very good Loras squad."
Brandon Kurilla (Hastings, Minn.) and
Josh Janssen (Green Bay, Wis.) teamed for an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles, but SMU found itself down 2-1 after the three doubles contests.
Janssen followed that up with a 6-1, 7-5 victory at No. 2 singles, and
E.J. Hietala (Duluth, Minn.) added a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 3, but that would be the extent of the Cardinals' success, as Loras posted straight-set wins at No. 1 and No. 5 singles, and adding three-set wins at No. 4 and No. 6 to seal the win.
The Cardinals (4-4 overall) are back in action next Saturday, squaring off against Saint John's in a 3:30 p.m. conference match, before taking on Bethany Lutheran in a nonconference match at 6 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Winona Tennis Center.
