BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's tennis team suffered a heartbreaking set back in Saturday's Southland Conference opener against New Orleans. The Privateers recorded a 4-3 victory to drop LU to 2-3 overall and 0-1 Southland Conference play.
"This was a tough loss," said head LU head coach
David Wong. "We didn't get the job done in doubles and that was the difference in match. We had our chances but let it slip through our fingers. You have to give credit to UNO, they made the plays when they had to have them."
The Cardinals took the first victory of the day with a 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles, but UNO bounced right back with 6-4 wins at the Nos. 2 and 3 spots to take the doubles point. The Privateers pushed their lead to two after a straight-sets victory at No. 4 singles.
The Cardinals rallied right back to tie the match at 2. LU's
Anna Spengler got the Cards on the scoreboard when she knocked off Anja Luethi, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 3 singles.
Andrea Ivanovic tied the match when she recorded a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, victory over Anna Segura Rius at the No. 2 spot.
UNO reclaimed the lead at No. 6 singles with a hard-fought straight-sets victory. UNO's Yasmine Rashad won the first set, 6-3, but freshman Luciana di Laura came back in the second set forcing a tiebreak. Rashad held on for the 7-6 (7-4) win to give UNO back the advantage.
The Red and White didn't go down without a fight as junior
Katya Lapayeva recorded a three-set victory at No. 1 singles. After taking the first set, 6-4, UNO's Soledad Calderon came back to win the second set. Lapayeva made quick work of her opponent in the third recording a 6-2 decision in the third for the win.
That left the deciding match in the hands of
Stephanie Marchena at the No. 5 spot. After dropping the first set, 6-3, Marchena showed poise to fight her way back and tie things up in the second set, 6-2. UNO's Hafsa Laraibi held on for the win, 6-4, in the third set.
"The silver lining in a loss like this is that we get to take the court again tomorrow to try and put this one behind us," said Wong. "SLU is a very tough team who knows how to win. We have to be ready to play."
The Cardinals step back on the court Sunday to host Southeastern Louisiana. The match against the Lady Lions is slated to tip off at noon from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
-LU CARDINALS-
