HILTON HEAD, S.C. — Maybe it was the sun, maybe it was the opponent.

Whatever it was, Monday's nonconference match against West Virginia State was just what the doctor ordered for the Saint Mary's University women's tennis team.

The Cardinals swept all three doubles matches and won five of the six singles matches — all in straight sets — en route to an 8-1 over West Virginia State, a win that snapped SMU's four-match losing streak.

“It's wasn't a really difficult match,” said SMU coach Jeff Halberg. “What it does is remind us of how difficult our own conference is.
 
“It's reassuring that we're a good tennis team that plays in a tough conference.”
 
Ashley Meschke (Pequot Lakes, Minn.), Ann Leeder (Greenfield, Wis.), Becky Newby Brookfield, Wis.), Aubrey Hirsch (Topeka, Kan.) and Jenny Pater (Stillwater, Minn.) all picked up straight-set singles wins. SMU's bid for a clean sweep was halted when Michele Clarke (Omaha, Neb.) lost a heartbreaking, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 decision at No. 2 singles.

Meschke-Clarke, Leeder-Hirsch and Annie Harala (Duluth, Minn.)-Lindsay Johnson (Rogers, Minn.) breezed to easy wins in doubles.

"This was a good win," said Halberg. "It's nice for us to get back on the winning track."