Saluki tennis player Helen Johnson does not give up.

Johnson faced tough competition and played long matches in SIUC’s home dual meet against Louisville, Memphis and Oral Roberts this weekend.

Johnson and doubles partner Molly Card outlasted Louisville’s Jody Resmondo and Beth Foote 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, (12-10) in No. 2 doubles Friday night.

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Momentum of play passed between the two teams throughout the match. Johnson said she and Card had to increase the intensity of their play in the final stages of the contest.

We let down a little bit (after the first set), she said. They (Louisville) got back in it and were more aggressive.

By the third set, they were still strong, so Molly (Card) and I had to bring our level up.

The match determined the winner of the SIUC-Louisville duel.

Card said she and Johnson went into the match ready to play for the whole team.

Helen (Johnson) and I just knew we had to do it for the team, she said. We had to keep our focus because the whole match was riding on the game.

Head coach Judy Auld said she expected Louisville to be tough going into the meet.

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I knew we had to play good singles, but that the match would come down to doubles, she said.

Concentration and mental strategy were key in Johnson’s No. 5 singles victories Saturday. Her matches against Memphis and Oral Roberts proved to be battles won by will, not just physical ability alone.

Johnson said her win against Kirsten Stewart of Memphis 7-5, 6-2 was the most difficult and frustrating of the competition.

It was a tough match for me, she said. I had to change my game a lot. I started slicing (the ball).

Auld said Johnson won the game by overcoming her frustration and not allowing her opponent to take her out of the game.

She was frustrated and couldn’t play the type of tennis she likes to play, Auld said. As a coach, when I see a player win a match like that it shows they are maturing as players.

Teammate Molly Card did not let a Psychology test right before the meet on Friday take her mind away from her game.

The minute I get on the court I have to forget about school for a couple hours.

Card played hard in her No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-2 victory over Louisville’s Angie Schneider. Schneider is one of Card’s friends from Indiana and the two have played each other a lot in the past.

It was a mental match, she said. We have played each other a lot so it was tough to play.

Junior Liz Gardner recovered from a slow start to finish her first dual meet at No. 1 for SIUC with a 2-3 record.

A great amount of pressure comes with playing the No.1 position and it can take players time to adjust.

Gardner said nerves were a factor in Friday’s matches, but she became more comfortable as the meet progressed.

In the first match against Louisville I was nervous, she said. After I got used to it, it didn’t bother me.

Auld said Gardner handled the pressure fairly well and is confident she will continue to play well at the position.

She realized she had to go out and just do it, Auld said. She has the game and is ready to play the position.

SIUC continued to win, defeating Oral Roberts Saturday afternoon 6-0. The Salukis won all six singles flights of the match.

The women ended the meet with a 3-0 record.

Johnson said overall, it was a weekend of mental tennis.

It wasn’t who was better, it was who could stay in it mentally.