WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's tennis team entered its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against Bethel with a full head of steam — thanks to a season-high four-match winning streak.
 
The Cardinals' bid for a fifth consecutive win, however, hit a brick wall in the form of the Royals, who made SMU their 12th consecutive victim this season, dealing Saint Mary's an 8-1 conference setback.
 
"The ladies put up a great fight and gave the Royals all they could handle," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "I'm proud of the effort, but Bethel is undefeated for a reason — they are an outstanding team."
 
Ella Boomgaarden (St. Peter, Minn.) and Peyton Buerman (Shawano, Wis.) collected Saint Mary's lone victory, teaming for an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles that left SMU down 2-1 after the three doubles matches.
 
Bethel took control in singles, sweeping through all six singles matches in straight sets to keep its record unblemished at 12-0.
 
Saint Mary's (1-4 MIAC, 7-6 overall) is now off until April 5-6-7 SMU will head to Inner City Tennis Center in Minneapolis, Minn., for a 2:30 p.m. matchup against Hamline on April 6, before returning home to the Winona Tennis Center for back-to-back 1:30 matches against St. Scholastica and UW-Superior the following two days.