BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's tennis team will host Alcorn State Saturday in its home opener. It is a scheduled doubleheader against the Braves beginning at 10 a.m., followed by the second match slated to start at 2 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Complex.
 
The Cardinals are 0-1 on the season after dropping the season opener at Rice last Saturday. The Owls recorded a 6-1 decision, but the Cardinals entered the match shorthanded playing without the services of two-year starter Benny Schweizer.
 
Despite the season-opening setback, there was a small silver lining from the match. LU senior Michael Feucht was named Southland Conference Player of the Week for his efforts against Rice. Feucht won both his singles and doubles matches to go undefeated on the day. Feucht defeated Tommy Bennett – a 20-match winner from last season – at No. 1 singles, and teamed up with sophomore Sebastian Santibanez to pick up a victory at No. 2 doubles. It was the fourth time in Feucht's career that he was named SLC Player of the Week.
 
Saturday's doubleheader will serve as the season opener for Alcorn State. The Braves struggled last season recording a 4-13 (.235) overall record, but finished third in the SWAC standings with a 3-2 (.600) mark. The Braves did the majority of their damage toward the end of the season splitting their final six decisions.
 
Saturday's match will be the first time LU and Alcorn State have met on the court since the 2015 season. That date was also a doubleheader between the two schools as Big Red took both matches, 7-0 and 4-1. The Cardinals are 12-0 all-time against Alcorn State dating back to the 1993 season.
 
Saturday's doubleheader will be the only time for the fans to get a chance to see the Cardinals before they hit the road for a long road swing that will take LU to West Coast and back through the Midwest before returning home. The Red and White will begin a five-match road swing Saturday, Jan. 28^th that will consist of dates against Boise State (in Los Angeles, Calif.) and either New Mexico or UCLA, Baylor, Arkansas and Oral Roberts before returning home to host Southern Miss.
 
-LU CARDINALS-