MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's tennis team had two singles matches stretched to a third set, another go to a second-set tie-breaker, and one doubles match that was decided by an 8-6 decision.
 
And each and every one of those close calls went against the Cardinals, as Saint Mary's dropped a 7-2 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference decision to Hamline Sunday afternoon at InnerCity Tennis Center.
 
"The guys played a tremendous match, they just weren't able to finish any of the close ones," said Saint Mary's tennis coach Jeff Halberg. "Hamline was a strong opponent and did what they had to do to get past us."
 
SMU's Brendon Raabolle (Andover, Minn.) and Philip Apel (North Oaks, Minn.) teamed up for an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles, as the Cardinals headed into the singles portion of the conference showdown staring at a 2-1 deficit.
 
Trevor Smiley (Minnetonka, Minn.) delivered a straight-set 6-4, 6-3 victory for the Cardinals, but the Pipers would prevail in the other five matches — including a 6-3, 3-6, 10-5 win at No. 1, a 7-5, 5-7, 10-5 victory at No. 5, and a 6-3, 7-6 (7) win at No. 6.
 
The Cardinals (0-6 MIAC, 5-11 overall) are back in action on Thursday, when they head to St. Paul, Minn., for a 4:30 p.m. conference matchup against Macalester.