NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Lamar University women's tennis team closed the 2016 regular season with a 5-2 setback at Stephen F. Austin Sunday afternoon. The loss drops Big Red to 9-11 (.450) on the season, and 4-7 (.364) in Southland Conference play. LU ends the season ninth in the league standings but due to the fact that Abilene Christian is not eligible for post season play the Cardinals will be the eighth seed in the SLC tournament
 
The Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead on their hosts after winning the doubles points. The Red and White got wins from junior Katya Lapayeva and Luciana Di Laura at No. 2 doubles and a hard-fought 7-5 win from Talisa Merchiers and Hanna Elfving at No. 3 doubles.
 
The Cardinals' lead didn't last very long as SFA responded with wins from the top two singles positions. Junior Anna Spengler tried to stem the tide by forcing her match to a third set at No. 3 singles. After dropping the first set, Spengler responded by recording a 6-2 win over the Ladyjacks Lauren Hidalgo-Smith, 6-2. The rally stopped there as Spengler fell 6-2 in the final set.
 
The Cardinals were able to get back on the scoreboard when Merchiers posted a straight-sets win at No. 4 singles. After having a fairly easy time in the opening set, Merchiers had to win the second set in a tiebreak, 7-6 (7-3).
 
Merchiers' victory would be the final point for the Cardinals as SFA would close out the day with wins at Nos. 5 and 6 singles.
 
The Cardinals will now turn their attention to the Southland Conference Championships. The championship tournament will take place Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24 at the Schlief Tennis Complex in Nacogdoches.
 
Stephen F. Austin 5, Lamar University 2
Schlief Tennis Center – Nacogdoches, Texas
April 10, 2016
 
Singles
1. Denise Maxl (SFA) def. Andrea Ivanovic (LU), 6-2, 7-5
2. Dhanielly Quevedo (SFA) def. Katya Lapayeva (LU), 6-0, 6-2
3. Laruen Hidalgo-Smith (SFA) def. Anna Spengler (LU), 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
4. Talisa Merchiers (LU) def. Valeria Terentyeva (SFA), 6-2, 7-6 (5-3)
5. Vanesa Calvo Pardo (SFA) def. Luciana Di Laura (LU), 6-2, 7-5
6. Liza Aginskaya (SFA) def. Hanna Elfving (LU), 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles
1. Quevedo/Maxl (SFA) def. Spengler/Ivanovic (LU), 6-1
2. Lapayeva/Di Laura (LU) def. Terentyeva/Lauren Hidalgo-Smith (SFA), 6-2
3. Merchiers/Elfving (LU) def. Calvo Pardo/Aginskaya (SFA), 7-5