BEAUMONT, Texas – After putting an end to a minor three-match slide and getting back to the .500 mark, the Lamar University men's tennis team returns to action Friday hosting Southern Mississippi. It will be the first of two home matches for the Cardinals in the midst of a stretch that will see LU play 10 of 12 matches away from Beaumont.
 
After consecutive losses to No. 6 UCLA, No. 14 Baylor and Arkansas, Big Red bounced back last week with a thrilling one-point decision at Oral Roberts. Facing a shutout loss, the Cardinals rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win the final four points.
 
The Cardinals (4-4) look to carry that momentum into Friday's showdown against Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles come to Beaumont with a 4-1 (.800) overall record. After jumping out to a 3-0 start with wins over Florida A&M, Jackson State and Alcorn State, USM stumbled against South Alabama. The Eagles rallied to defeat Southland foe, New Orleans (5-2), last time out.
 
The Cardinals are 1-2 (.333) all-time against Southern Miss. After dropping the first two meetings in the series, the Cardinals recorded a 4-3 victory in Beaumont last season.
 
Friday's match will begin at 2 p.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
The Red and White will be back in action Sunday when they step on the court to take on UT Rio Grande Valley. The Vaqueros travel to Beaumont with a 2-6 (.250) overall record and have dropped three of their last four outings. Similar to the Cards, UTRGV has faced two nationally ranked opponents on the season but is coming off a 6-0 loss at No. 25 Texas A&M.
 
The two schools have played two similar opponents this season. The Vaqueros have dropped decisions to Rice (7-0) and Oral Roberts (6-1), while the Cardinals beat ORU (4-3) but dropped a 6-1 decision at Rice.
 
The Cardinals have been extremely tough in their home facility. Big Red posted a 7-0 record last season, and is a perfect 2-0 this year. UTRGV comes to the Golden Triangle with a 2-5 (.286) record in away matches. The Cardinals trail the all-time series against UTRGV, 16-28 (.364), but posted a 6-1 victory last season in Edinburg. Sunday's match will begin at noon from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
The match against the Vaqueros will be the team's last home match for more than a month. LU won't be back in Beaumont until Friday, Mar. 24 (vs. Incarnate Word).
 
-LU CARDINALS-