BEAUMONT, Texas – A three-match break from Southland Conference play was apparently just what the Lamar University women's tennis team (6-5/1-3 Southland) needed. The Cardinals had dropped four of five entering the homestand, but have since rattled off three consecutive victories. The Cardinals will look to keep that streak alive Saturday when they step on the court for a league matchup against Central Arkansas.
The Sugar Bears enter the weekend with an 8-5 (.615) overall record and 3-3 (.500) in Southland Conference play. UCA has dropped two of its last three but is coming off a 6-1 victory over Nicholls six days ago. UCA heads to Beaumont currently sixth in the Southland standings, two matches up on the Cards in the win column. LU is currently ninth in the conference standings just a match back of Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin in the loss column. The top eight seeds advance to the Southland Championships.
Although the Cardinals come into Saturday's match as one of the Southland's hottest teams, it is a different story in league play. Big Red has only won one of its first four SLC matches, but their lone victory came at defending conference co-champion Nicholls.
LU's recent surge has come from the improved play of sophomore
Andrea Ivanovic at No. 2 singles and junior
Anna Spengler at the No. 3 position. Spengler is 7-2 (.778) at line three singles as she prepares to face the Sugar Bears riding a three-match win streak. Ivanovic is two wins above .500 on the season posting a 6-4 (.600) mark at the No. 2 spot.
Saturday's contest takes on even more importance for the Cardinals as they prepare to face a stretch run that is not in their favor. LU will be on the road for four of their final six conference contests.
Following the contest against UCA, Big Red will open a three-match road swing beginning Wednesday, March 23. The first match of the trip will be at UTSA (2 p.m.) followed by conference matches at Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Saturday's match against Central Arkansas will begin at 11 a.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center. Admission to all home tennis matches is free.
-LU CARDINALS-
