BEAUMONT, Texas – Junior Talisa Merchiers rallied for a hard-fought three-set victory to end a rollercoaster day of emotions on a high for the Lamar University women's tennis team. The Cardinals (9-7/4-4 Southland) held on to defeat Sam Houston State, 4-3, Wednesday afternoon at the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Complex.
 
The match was originally scheduled to be played at the Thompson Family Tennis Center, but was moved to the indoor courts at Beaumont Municipal due to the threat of rain. By the time the match began the weather was clear enough to play outside. LU jumped out to a great start building a 3-0 advantage and appeared to be on its way to an easy victory before the Bearkats rallied. The visitors then appeared to be on their way to a come-from-behind victory before Merchiers stepped up to play the role of hero.
 
After surrendering a 3-0 advantage, Merchiers was the final hope for the Cardinals to pull out the victory but for that to happen she was forced to dig herself out of a hole. Merchiers dropped her opening set to the Bearkats' Khee Yen Wee, in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-5). Despite the heartbreaker, Merchiers battled back in the second to win, 6-2. She held the momentum taking the third set by the same score to clinch the individual and team match.
 
"The doubles point was huge again today," said LU head coach David Wong. "Some people overlook it because it is awarded first, but a match like today proves just how important it really is in college tennis. I take my hats off to the Sam Houston State coach and their players. They were down 3-0 and battled right back to tie it up. I'm proud of our girls."
 
"Talisa and Andrea played really well today. They both closed out their matches strong. Andrea's win came early in singles, and Talisa closed out the match. That was an exciting match, and Talisa played big when the time came for her to step up. You also can't forget what Anna did in singles play. She wasted no time taking care of her opponent. Those three young ladies set the tone for our team," added Wong.
 
Prior to Merchiers victory, it appeared her match would be little more than a footnote on an otherwise easy day. LU got wins at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles to take the first point of the match. Sophomore Anna Spengler wasted little time in defeating the 'Kats Ema Barkovic, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 3 singles. Sophomore Andrea Ivanovic followed suit with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Carrie Casey at line two, but it was at that point the celebration stopped for one team and began for the other.
 
The Bearkats flipped the scenario on LU taking the next three matches. SHSU's Fabienne Gettwart rallied in both sets at No. 1 singles to put the Bearkats on the scoreboard. Sam Houston State pulled within a point with a straight-set victory at No. 5, and then tied the match with a victory on court six. To make matters worse, LU was trailing on court four, before Merchiers closed the door on any chance the Bearkats had of completing the rally. By day's end it was the Red and White who had the final celebration.
 
The victory not only gave the Cardinals a larger cushion over Sam Houston State in the conference standings, but moved LU into a two-way tie with Central Arkansas for seventh. The Cards hold the tiebreaker over UCA for the conference playoffs.
 
The Cardinals return to action Friday when they travel to Waco, Texas to take on Baylor. The match against the Bears will begin at 10 a.m.
  
Singles
1. Fabienne Gettwart (SHSU) def. Katya Lapayeva (LU), 7-5, 7-5
2. Andrea Ivanovic (LU) def. Carrie Casey (SHSU), 6-1, 7-5
3. Anna Spengler (LU) def. Ema Barkovic (SHSU), 6-1, 6-2
4. Talisa Merchiers (LU) def. Khee Yen Wee (SHSU), 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-2
5. Mila Milanovic (SHSU) def. Stephanie Marchena (LU), 6-4, 6-2
6. Maddie Mortimore (SHSU) def. Teodora Stefanovic (LU), 6-4, 6-2
 
Doubles
1. Spengler/Ivanovic (LU) def. Milanovic/Gettwart (SHSU), 6-3
2. Casey/Yen Wee (SHSU) def. Lapayeva/Luciana Di Laura (LU), 6-4
3. Marchena/Merchiers (LU) def. Caitlyn Mitchell/Mortimore (SHSU), 6-3