THIBODAUX, La. – The Lamar University men's tennis team recorded an impressive 6-1 decision over Presbyterian College Wednesday afternoon at the Colonel Tennis Courts in Thibodaux, La. The victory moves Big Red to 6-3 (.667) on the season, as well as avenges a 5-2 setback suffered at the hands of the Blue Hose last season.
 
"I proud of how our guys fought today," said head coach Scott Shankles. "Presbyterian came out with a lot of energy, and had a ton of momentum right from the beginning of the match, and we came out a little flat. Despite dropping the doubles point, there was no panic from our guys. We've had experience this season of battling back after dropping the doubles point. We turned things around in singles play."
 
"Our whole line up got out to a strong start in the first set of singles," said Shankles. "Any time your top guys get off the court quickly it gives the rest of your team a jolt. Presbyterian is a very good team, and this was a solid victory."
 
Presbyterian had the momentum after winning the doubles points, but didn't have the ability to maintain it. The Cardinals answered back with three consecutive wins in singles play to take a commanding 3-1 lead. Junior Nikita Lis got the rally started with a 6-2, 6-3, decision over Alejandro Bejar at No. 2 singles. Classmate Michael Feucht followed suit with an equally impressive victory at the No. 1 spot. Freshman Sebastian Santibanez posted a 6-3, 6-3, decision over PC's Danny Bruce.
 
The three singles victories put Big Red just one win shy of the overall team win. The final victory would come from junior Jeandre Hoogenboezem, but his win didn't prevent the rest of the team from staying focused. Hoogenboezem defeated the Blue Hose's Brandon Mills in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Following Hoogenboezem's win, LU closed out the match with wins at the final two singles slots.
 
The Cardinals closed out the day with wins from sophomore Benny Schweizer and junior Juuso Laitinen to finish off the sweep of singles play.
 
LU will look to make it two in a row when it travels to Stillwater, Okla., Sunday Mar. 13 to take on Oklahoma State and Iowa. Those two matches will be stops two and three of a six-match swing away from Beaumont.
  
Singles
1. Michael Feucht (LU) def. Alexander Lykou (PC), 6-3, 6-4
2. Nikita Lis (LU) def. Alejandro Bejar (PC), 6-2, 6-3
3. Sebastian Santibanez (LU) def. Danny Bruce (PC), 6-3, 6-3
4. Benny Schweizer (LU) def. Diego Manzanas (PC), 7-6, 6-2
5. Jeandre Hoogenboezem (LU) def. Brandon Mills (PC), 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
6. Juuso Laitinen (LU) def. Ben Kelley (PC), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
 
Doubles
1. Mills/Lykou (PC) def. Hoogenboezem/Lis (LU), 6-2
2. Feucht/Schweizer (LU) vs. Bruce/Kelley (PC), 4-3 Unf.
3. Manzanas/Bejar (PC) def. Laitinen/Santibanez (LU), 6-0