OMAHA, Neb. – Morningside University, No. 17 in the most recent NAIA national poll, was pushed deep into several matches but defeated College of Saint Mary 7-0 in a Great Plains Athletic Conference tennis dual on Wednesday at Genesis Westroads.

The Mustangs improved to 21-1 overall and 3-0 in GPAC play, despite being pushed to third sets in two of the six singles matches. At No. 1, Line Jensen of Morningside edged Callista Uchill 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. And at No. 5, Jil Exelmans nipped CSM's Carolyna Truong 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.

CSM Coach Michael Johnson came way encouraged from the dual.

"Strong effort across the lineup, led by Callista pushing her match to a third set,'' he said. "We were competitive in every match, but came up in short in the key moments.''

The Flames (5-2, 0-2) went deep into several sets in the other four singles matches. At No. 2, Lara Heinrich beat Noel Moreno 6-3, 6-4; at No. 3, Brooke Marshall defeated Iyaanah Pardiwalla 6-3, 7-5; at No. 4, Helene Kreibich got past Yana Gupta 6-2, 6-3; and at No. 6, Stefany Simplicio downed Darece Van Auken 6-0, 6-0.

"Morningside is one of the toughest teams in the conference, but we need to find ways to turn close matches into wins,'' Johnson said.

The Mustangs swept the doubles match to earn the point. At No. 1, Jensen and Marshall beat Uchill and Moreno, 6-4; at No. 2, Heinrich and Kreibich downed Pardiwalla and Truong, 6-2; and at No. 3, Simplicio and Bianca Seminario got past Gupta and Abrianna Reynosa, 6-2.

"We'll regroup and prepare for two matches this weekend,'' Johnson said.

CSM is back home at Genesis Westroads on Saturday and Saturday for GPAC matches. It hosts Mount Marty University on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. and it hosts Midland University on Sunday at 5 p.m. for Senior Day.