PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Lamar University entered the day expecting to play two matches, but Mother Nature had other plans. Due to inclement weather in the Houston area the Cardinals were only able to play one of the two scheduled matches against Prairie View A&M Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals cruised to a 7-0 victory over the Panthers in that match.
 
Everything considered, the Cardinals should feel fortunate to have completed the lone match because the weather forced three delays. Despite all of the stoppages in play, the Cards never got distracted winning every match in straight sets including four shutout sets. LU also had four other sets where it surrendered just one game.
 
"It's always tough any time you have to deal with rain delays," said LU head coach Scott Shankles. "I'm pleased with how we handled the situation on every court."
 
The Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead after taking the first two doubles matches. The team of senior Juuso Laitinen and junior Logan Powell picked up the first victory with their shutout on court three. Senior Michael Feucht and junior Benny Schweizer took just a few more minutes longer to dispense of the Panthers' Anirudh Yadav and Sergio Avella, 6-4, at No. 2 doubles for the point.
 
The doubles point opened the flood gates for LU as the straight-set victories began to roll in. Senior Jeandre Hoogenboezem was the first Cardinal off the court after putting Avella away, 6-0, 6-1, on court No. 3. Powell scored the team's third point with a 6-2, 6-2, decision over PVAMU's Zachary Suico at the No. 6 position.
 
Laitinen officially put the match away with his 6-0, 6-3, decision over Freddy Quintero at No. 4 singles. Feucht and sophomore Sebastian Santibanez followed suit with wins at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively.
 
Although the team outcome was no longer in doubt, the most excited match of the afternoon came at No. 5 singles where Schweizer was locked in a tight battle with Prairie View's Yadav. After picking up a 7-5 decision in the opening set, Schweizer wasted little time going for the knockout punch in the second set. Schweizer put his opponent away with a 6-3 decision in the second set.
 
The Cardinals (7-5) return to action Friday, Mar. 10, when they travel to Mobile, Ala., to take on South Carolina-Upstate. The match is slated to begin at 10 a.m.