WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. — The Saint Mary's men's tennis team dug themselves a hole that proved to be just too deep to dig out of Friday evening.
 
Saint Mary's lost all three doubles matches, while splitting the six singles matches, in dropping a 6-3 nonconference decision to Northwestern (Minn.) at Lifetime Fitness.
 
"It was just too big a hole to dig out of," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg of the 3-0 deficit after the doubles play. "It's not that we played poorly, we just couldn't get the big points when we needed them. It was a good effort, but there's also room for improvement."
 
The Eagles came storming out of the gates, collecting 8-6, 8-0 and 8-7 (3) victories in the three doubles matches to grab the commanding 3-0 advantage.
 
Tucker Stene (Fridley, Minn.) delivered a straight-set, 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles, while Josh Janssen (Green Bay, Wis.) and Caden Rodning (Mason City, Iowa) were stretched to a third set before coming about victorious — Janssen winning 7-6 (8), 5-7, 10-7 at No. 3 and Rodning posting a 5-7, 6-3, 10-3 victory at No. 6.
 
The Cardinals (4-3 overall) are right back in action on Saturday, when they head to St. Peter, Minn.) for a 1:30 p.m. conference match against MIAC power Gustavus.
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