MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's tennis team had to make a brief trek north, before the Cardinals could head south.
 
The Cardinals, who will head to Orlando, Fla., for a week-long spring trip on Sunday, had some unfinished Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference business at the Baseline Tennis Center to attend to before boarding their flight to the USTA National Tennis Complex.
 
Unfortunately, the Cardinals' extensive road trip did not get off quite the way they had hoped.
 
St. Catherine rattled off wins in all three doubles matches — including 8-7 losses at both No. 2 and No. 3 — and the Wildcats never relinquished the lead in dealing Saint Mary's a 7-2 conference loss Saturday at Baseline Tennis Center.
 
St. Catherine grabbed the quick 3-0 lead, but it wasn't easy, winning 8-3 at No. 1 doubles before collecting 8-7 victories at No. 2 and No. 3.
 
Emily Henderson (Jordan, Minn.) and Elena Ruzevich (Chicago, Ill.) picked up Saint Mary's two singles wins, with Ruzevich earning a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 5. Henderson outlasted the Wildcats' Anna Luksik 6-4, 4-6, 13-11.
 
The Cardinals (0-2 MIAC, 3-3 overall) will kick off their three-match spring trip on Monday, squaring off against Adrian at the USTA National Tennis Complex, before facing King's College on Tuesday and Albion on Wednesday.