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WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's tennis team gave UW-La Crosse all it could handle Friday evening in a nonconference match that included three singles matches that went the maximum three sets, and a pair of doubles matches that were decided by 8-6 outcomes.
 
Unfortunately for coach Jeff Halberg, close just wasn't going to be good enough, as the Cardinals came up empty in the 8-6 doubles decisions, and dropped two of the three, three-set singles matches in falling to the Eagles 8-1 at the Winona Tennis Center.
 
"We gave it a good fight," Halberg said. "I just think those close doubles losses just took the wind our of our sails."
 
Alex Holm (Red Wing, Minn.) picked up the lone win for the Cardinals, topping UW-L's Joey Schneider in a three-set marathon, 3-6, 6-2, 10-5, at No. 5 singles. Brenden Amiotte (Rapid City, S.D.) and Brett Giesen (Cato, Wis.) also went the distance at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively, with Amiotte falling 7-6, 4-6, 10-5, while Giesen dropped a 4-6, 6-2, 10-4 decision.
 
The Cardinals (7-5 overall) are right back in action on Saturday, hosting St. Thomas in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match at the Winona Tennis Center. Match time is set for noon.