WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's tennis team kicked off its 2016 season in impressive fashion Friday evening, blanking Bethany Lutheran 9-0 in a nonconference match.
 
Saturday afternoon, the Cardinals were once again opening a season—this time their 2016 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference campaign.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the end result was not quite as favorable, as the Knights—who finished 8-1 in conference play a year ago en route to a 23-3 overall record—handed Saint Mary's an 8-1 setback at the Winona Tennis Center.
 
"We battled well, but it's tough to make a dent in such a deep, talented team," said Saint Mary's coach Jeff Halberg. "Still, if we put forth this type of every every day, we are going to be just fine."
 
Brett Giesen (Cato, Wis.) picked up the Cardinals' lone win, dropping the Knights' Ezra Frankel 6-3, ,6-1 at No. 3 singles. Carleton won the other five singles matches in straight sets, while taking 8-2, 8-3, and 9-8 victories in the three doubles matches.
 
The Cardinals (0-1 MIAC, 1-1 overall) are back in action with four road matches next weekend. Saint Mary's will face Carroll on Friday, before squaring off with Carthage and Concordia (Wis.) on Saturday, closing out the weekend at UW-Oshkosh on Sunday.