BEAUMONT, Texas – After dropping the doubles point, the Lamar University women's tennis team rallied to defeat Cleveland State, 4-3, Monday afternoon at the Thompson Family Tennis Center in Beaumont, Texas. The Cardinals improve to 6-3 (.667) on the season.
 
Although the day ended with nothing but cheers, it didn't start out that way for the LU faithful. The Cardinals were swept in doubles play. Despite dropping all three matches, LU made things interesting at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles but they were edged out by scores of 7-5 on both courts.
 
The Cards wasted little time pulling even in the scoring. Senior Katya Lapayeva made quick work of the Vikings' Isabella Spindler, 6-3, 6-0, on court No. 1. Junior Talisa Merchiers gave the Cardinals their first lead of the match with her 6-2, 6-4 decision at the No. 4 position.
 
Big Red pushed its run to three-straight points after senior Anna Spengler stepped off the court at No. 2 singles. Spengler had little trouble defeating CSU's Victoria Bensimon in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
 
Spengler's victory had LU knocking on the door for the overall win. The Cardinals were heading to a third set on courts three and five, and up a set on court No. 6. Courts three and five would finish in heartbreaking fashion for the Cardinals as Cleveland State won both matches in a third set tiebreak.
 
Those setbacks wouldn't matter as senior Hanna Elfving recorded the deciding match just moments before the other two finished. Elfving ousted Cleveland State's Blanche Lenoan, 6-2, 7-5 for the fourth and final point.
 
The Cardinals return to action Wednesday when the travel to Memphis, Tenn., to take on the Tigers. The match against Memphis will begin at 9 a.m. -LU CARDINALS-