FAIRMONT — Though the weather may not have favored a three-set tennis match, the Fairmont Cardinals used three of them to beat the New Ulm Eagles, 5-2, during Big South Conference action on Thursday.

“We were actually quite glad it was cold and windy because we wanted to prove that we could play in that kind of environment, and we did,” Cardinals head coach Eric Johnson said. “We didn’t play great, but we kept executing and didn’t quit.”

The Cardinals garnered the three-set wins while simultaneously sweeping doubles play. No. 3 doubles players Thomas Klanderud and Aaron Hendricks sandwiched together two wins to beat Tony Rosenhamer and Dakota Berbrich, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.

Tony Joseph and Blake Haugen did likewise, beating Matt Sondag and Mike Messenger, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 at the second doubles position.

Andy Hagen and Connor Madsen, however, fell to Eagles No. 1 doubles netters Tyler Guggisberg and Kelby Stocker in the first match, 7-5. Hagen and Madsen rebounded with a 6-2 second-set win to force a third set. Despite each duo’s rally, Hagen and Madsen outlasted Guggisberg and Stocker, 7-5, in the final set.

“We tried a little bit of a different lineup today. We felt like we needed strength in doubles,” Johnson said. “We needed some of our veteran players in the doubles to help with the teaching aspect of it. That’s shown today.”

Tyler Head started the Cardinals’ scoring with a 6-0, 6-0 win against Andrew Goodall at No. 2 singles.

Tyrell Zieske then added another singles win at the third spot. Zieske and Colton Collum went back and forth in the first set before Zieske pocketed two game wins for the 6-4 score. He then edged Collum 7-6 (7-3) in the second to earn the victory.

“I was extremely proud of Tyrell Zieske. He’s lost three three-set matches in a row,” Johnson said. “We just put him back out there today. We’re not quitting on the kid and he just had a positive attitude, was aggressive all day and beat a really good third singles player. I was really happy with that.”

Joel Koelpin and Craig Schapekahm contributed New Ulm’s wins. Koelpin, the Eagles’ No. 1 singles player, topped Carter Klanderud, 6-3, 6-4. Schapekahm escaped past Ben Hernes to take a 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 10-5 win at the third singles position.

“It’s his (Hernes’) first time this seson at four singles and I think it won’t be his last,” Johnson said. “He was kind of like Tyrell– you have to learn how to win.”

Fairmont (4-4) plays at Luverne on Monday pending the weather forecasts.

Fairmont 5, New Ulm 2

Singles: Joel Koelpin (NU) def. Carter Klanderud, 6-3, 6-4. Tyler Head (F) def. Andrew Goodall, 6-0, 6-0. Tyrell Zieske (F) def. Colton Collum, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). Craig Schapekahm (NU) def. Ben Hernes, 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 10-5.

Doubles: Andy Hagen-Connor Madsen (F) def. Tyler Guggisberg-Kelby Stocker, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. Tony Joseph-Blake Haugen (F) def. Matt Sondag-Mike Messenger, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. Thomas Klanderud-Aaron Hendericks (F) def. Tony Rosenhamer-Dakota Berbrich 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.