Oct. 3, 2014

Flight 1 and 2 Singles |

Flight 3 and Doubles

BEAUMONT, Texas - Four Lamar Cardinals picked up singles wins on the opening day of competition in the 2014 Ron Wesbrooks Invitational at the Thompson Family Tennis Center Friday. The three-day tournament also saw two LU doubles teams advance to the second round of the doubles draw.

"I think overall we did well on the first day," said Lamar head coach Scott Shankles. "I'm pleased with where we stand heading into tomorrow. In addition to our success in singles, we also have two teams in the main draw for doubles.

"There were a few matches maybe we were not mentally ready for starting out the day. That is an area we have to improve on. The first match of a tournament there will be more nerves than the rest, which makes it the toughest match. We have to manage that better because it can cause you to fall behind early, and it can also cost you the match."

Sophomore Nikita Lis got the red and white out to a strong start Friday posting a thrilling three-set victory over Texas A&M's Frankie Colunga, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, in the first flight. Classmate Juuso Laitinen and senior Mikko Rajamaki followed suit with victories in flight two. Laitinen had to rally in three sets after dropping a 6-3 decision in the opening set, while Rajamaki picked up a victory in straight sets. Sophomore Jeandre Hoogenboezem was the lone Cardinal to not pick up a win in the first two singles flights, but he didn't bow out quietly. After dropping the opening set he came storming back to pick up a 6-1 decision in the second. The final set went to UTPA's Juan Cruz Soria, 6-3.

Lamar had two players in flight three singles, with one advancing to the semifinals. After receiving a bye in the opening round, junior Steve McMullan posted a 7-6 (6), 6-1 victory over UTPA's Nikola Crvelin to advance.

The doubles competition has two LU duos in the main draw. The team of Hoogenboezem/Laitinen will face Tyler Junior College's Ciro Lampasas and Zach Northey, while Lis and McMullan will take on Hector Ramirez and Alejandro Sanoja from UTPA.

The Cardinals will return to the court for the second day of competition Saturday morning. The doubles competition will open the day beginning at 9 a.m.

-LAMAR-