MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Still hobbled by the injury bug, the Saint Mary's women's tennis team found Thursday's match against Bethel to be an uphill climb.
 
More like trying to conquer Mount Everest.
 
And, unfortunately, there would be no summitting for the Cardinals.
 
Bethel took advantage of its depth — and the Cardinals depleted roster — in rolling to a 9-0 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over SMU at Baseline Tennis Center.
 
"It was a tough day," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "They are such a deep and talented team. Playing them at full-strength would have been a tough task, and to have to face them missing so many people was just too tough of a task."
 
The Royals flexed their muscles early, dropping just two games combined in sweeping the three doubles matches, before completing the 9-0 sweep with six, straight-set singles victories.
 
The Cardinals (1-8 MIAC, 6-10 overall) close out their 2023 regular-season schedule on Saturday, heading to the Duluth Indoor Sports Center in Duluth, Minn., for a 1 p.m. MIAC match against St. Scholastica.
 
  Read Full Article