BEAUMONT, Texas – After a disappointing start to its conference season, the Lamar University women's tennis team will look to bounce back Saturday with a two-match road swing in Southland Conference play. The Cardinals (2-4/0-2 SLC) will be in Thibodaux, La. Saturday to take on Nicholls in a noon match. The Red and White returns to action 24 hours later to square off against rival McNeese State in Lake Charles, La.
The Cardinals are looking to put an end to a three-match slide dating back to a 4-0 decision at Louisiana Tech on Feb. 20. LU opened conference play at home last week but dropped close decisions to New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana. In both matches, LU lost the doubles point which played a crucial role in the outcome.
Nicholls enters the week with a 3-7 (.300) overall record, and 0-1 in Southland Conference action. The Colonels have dropped two straight and four of their last five heading into the weekend's matchup. Nicholls is coming off a 7-0 setback to McNeese State in Thibodaux three days ago. For the Colonels, Saturday's match is just the team's second home match in more than a month and kicks off a stretch of seven of their next eight that will be played in front of their home fans.
McNeese State enters the week as one of the league's hottest teams. The Cowgirls boast a 9-4 (.692) overall record, and are one of three teams tied atop the conference standings with a 2-0 league record. McNeese has won four straight and six of their last seven, but will face Sam Houston State (5-5/0-2 SLC) Saturday before the Cards come calling.
The Cardinals got some very strong play from the top two singles spots in their conference openers last weekend. Junior
Katya Lapayeva and sophomore
Andrea Ivanovic combined to go 3-1 from the Nos. 1-2 singles positions.
Following Sunday's match, the Cardinals will take a break from Southland action as four of the next five matches will be non-conference competitions. The Red and White will square off against UNC Wilmington Wednesday, March 9 and then return to action six days later to face Bradley. LU will host Rutgers Wednesday March 16 before returning to conference action.
-LU CARDINALS-
