BEAUMONT, Texas – Sophomore Stephanie Marchena rallied from a 5-2 deficit in her opening set to pick up a win at No. 5 singles, a win that was the turning point in Lamar University's 4-3 victory over Bradley Tuesday afternoon at the Thompson Family Tennis Center. The victory was LU's (5-5) second-straight non-conference win and came on a day that saw two matches go to a third set and two sets go to a tiebreak before the outcome was decided.
 
"This was a hard-fought win today," said head coach David Wong. "We really had some key players step up today. We had some players who overcame adversity and they were able to put that aside and play for their school and their teammates. I couldn't be more proud of our effort.
 
"I think today was a good example of how a team comes together and fights for one common goal. That is what makes you strong as a team. I'm very proud that they didn't quit and battled back every step of the way. We were losing on courts five and six, and both players battled their way back into the match," added Wong.
 
The Cardinals were dominant in doubles play winning all three matches by a combined 18-8 score. The team of junior Katya Lapayeva and freshman Luciana Di Laura were first off the court with a 6-1 victory and the other two LU squads quickly followed suit. Although it was the first point scored, it played a key factor in the overall outcome as the two teams would split the six singles matches.
 
Junior Anna Spengler handed the Cards a 2-0 lead after making quick work of Bradley's Alexa Brandt at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-1. The Braves answered back with a three-set win at No. 1 singles, before Marchena put the Cards back in the driver's seat with her straight-sets win over Aimee Manfredo, 7-5, 6-4, at No. 5 singles.
 
Although it didn't seem like much at the moment, Marchena's victory was key to the match. She was on the verge of dropping the opening set before rallying from three games down to claim the win.
 
Junior Talisa Merchiers closed out the victory for the Cardinals which was pivotal as Bradley recorded wins in the final two matches. Merchiers gutted out a 7-6 (7-4) win in her opening set, and came right back to take a 6-4 decision in the second set. Merchiers' win locked up the team's second consecutive victory.
 
The Cardinals have little time to celebrate as they return to action Wednesday against Rutgers. The match against the Scarlet Knights is slated to begin at 1 p.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center. Admission to the match is free.
  
Singles
1. Ariel Dechter (BU) def. Katya Lapayeva (LU), 6-1, 1-6, 6-0
2. Alejandra de Lasa (BU) def. Andrea Ivanovic (LU), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
3. Anna Spengler (LU) def. Alexa Brandt (BU), 6-1, 6-1
4. Talisa Merchiers (LU) def. Ashley Thai (BU), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
5. Stephanie Marchena (LU) def. Aimee Manfredo (BU), 7-5, 6-4
6. Malini Wihesinghe (BU) def. Luciana Di Laura (LU), 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
 
Doubles
1. Spengler/Ivanovic (LU) def. Brandt/Thai (BU), 6-4
2. Lapayeva/Di Laura (LU) def. Dechter/Manfredo (BU), 6-1
3. Marchena/Merchiers (LU) def. Wijesinghe/de Lasa (BU), 6-3