WINONA, Minn. — Not even the momentum of a season-opening sweep of Martin Luther could carry the Saint Mary's University men's tennis team to a victory Sunday afternoon.
Carleton, coming into Sunday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against the Cardinals having already racked up four wins this season, proved to be too much for SMU to handle, as the Knights dealt Saint Mary's a 9-0 setback at the Winona Tennis Center.
"We started really well in doubles, but Carleton just had too much firepower," said Saint Mary's coach
Jeff Halberg. "Carleton is a very tough team, but I thought we gave them a good battle — especially in doubles. We learned a lot this weekend."
Saint Mary's gave the Knights all they could handle in the three doubles matches, with
Evan Huemoeller (Owatonna, Minn.)/
Brendon Raabolle (Andover, Minn.) falling 8-2 at No. 1, while
Caden Rodning (Mason City, Iowa)/
Matt Besek (Winona, Minn.) dropping an 8-4 decision at No. 2 and
Philip Apel (North Oaks, Minn.)/
Tucker Stene (Fridley, Minn.) falling 8-3 at No. 3.
It was a different story in singles, however, as the Knights flexed their muscles — collecting six straight-set victories, dropping just 14 games in the process.
The Cardinals (0-1 MIAC, 1-1 overall) are back in action next weekend, when they host Loras (Friday) and Northwestern (Saturday) in a pair of nonconference matches at the Winona Tennis Center.
