BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's tennis team took full advantage of its home opener Saturday taking both matches of a doubleheader against Alcorn State. LU defeated the Lady Braves, 6-1, in the opening match and followed up with 4-0 decision in the afternoon contest at the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
The Cardinals finished the day with six shutout sets, including four in the first match. Big Red was especially dominant in doubles play surrendering a total of five games in the five completed matches (No. 1 singles was halted in the second match, despite having a 5-2 lead, when LU clinched the point).
After taking the doubles point with ease in the opening match, senior Talisa Merchiers overwhelmed Alcorn State's Veronika Pytlikova, 6-0, 6-0. Freshman Jasmin Buchta quickly followed suit with a straight-sets victory at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-2, over Natalia Parchowska. Buchta's win put the Red and White within one point of the overall victory.
The Cardinals had numerous matches remaining to pick up the match winning the first set on five of the six courts. The clincher came from another freshman – Sanja Jolic – on court 6. Jolic recorded a 6-0, 6-4 decision over the Lady Braves' Marlene Maier. LU also took victories on courts 2 and 1, respectively, before Alcorn cracked the scoreboard at No. 5 singles.
LU utilized the same formula in the second match, dominate in doubles and ride that momentum through singles. Buchta and senior Hanna Elfving recorded a shutout at line 3 doubles, while Merchiers and junior Stephanie Marchena added a 6-2 victory at No. 2 for the point.
Just like in the opening match, the Cardinals took five of the first six opening sets which set the tone for the rest of the match. Elfving was the first Cardinal off the court with her 6-1, 6-2, decision over Natalia Parchowska at No. 6 singles. Senior Katya Lapayeva added a lopsided 6-0, 6-3, victory at No. 1 to give the Cardinals a 3-0 advantage.
Big Red didn't have to wait long to close out the day as Buchta got the match winner on court three. After recording a 6-3 victory in the first set, she pressed on the accelerator in the second for a 6-2 win over Klavdija Bukovec at No. 3 singles. All other matches were suspended following Buchta's victory.
The Cardinals return to action Saturday, Feb. 25, when they travel to Edinburg, Texas to take on UT Rio Grande Valley. The match against the Vaqueros will begin at noon.
-LU CARDINALS-
