WINONA, Minn. — Jeff Halberg certainly can't fault the effort of his Saint Mary's University men's tennis team.

It's the end results that are beginning to wear on the Cardinals' head coach.

"If it weren't for bad luck, I swear, we'd have no luck at all," said Halberg after his team dropped its second straight 5-4 decision, this time to UW-Eau Claire at the SMU Tennis Center on Friday. "It was another great effort — we just haven't been able to get the breaks to go our way, and that's unfortunate.

"I told the guys after the match that the effort can't be any better, and if they continue to play the way they are, our fortunes are going to change."

Tyler Stevenson (Neenah, Wis.) and Mark Leeder (Greenfield, Wis.) continued their torrid starts against the Blugolds, as Stevenson rolled to a 6-4, 6-1 win over Chris Slagle at No. 1 singles, while Leeder was a 7-5, 6-1 winner at No. 2. The twosome — both of which are now 7-1 in singles play — then teamed up for one of the Cardinals' two doubles wins, posting an 8-3 win at No. 1.

Tom Vollman (Oak Park, Ill.) and Steve Clements (La Crosse, Wis.) accounted for SMU's other win, picking up a 9-8 decision at No. 3 doubles.

"We are so close — we could easily be 6-2 right now, rather than 3-5," said Halberg, whose team has now dropped four straight heading into a tough stretch that includes matches at MIAC powers Carleton (Sunday) and Gustavus (Saturday, March 12). "The road doesn't get any easier for us, but I like the way this team is coming together."