BEAUMONT, Texas – The reigning Southland Conference Champion Lamar University men's tennis team will once again be playing for another regular-season title after Friday afternoon's victory over Nicholls. LU (15-6/4-0 SLC) defeated the Colonels, 6-1, Friday in Thibodaux, La.
The victory sets up a potential rematch of last year's Southland Conference showdown against rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders are undefeated in league play but will travel to Abilene Christian Wednesday before hosting Big Red.
"It's always good to get the win," said LU head coach
Scott Shankles. "Nicholls always plays hard with good intensity, but I felt like we matched their intensity today."
The Cardinals took the opening lead by winning courts two and three in doubles competition. The victories, although not close, were huge because LU was trailing at the No. 1 position before the match was halted.
The Cardinals held the momentum from the doubles competition never allowing Nicholls into the match. The Red and White rattled off five consecutive singles victories to cruise to the team win before Nicholls (5-10/0-5 SLC) was able to get on the scoreboard. The Colonels' lone victory came from line three singles.
Senior
Nikita Lis gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead with his victory over Bernard Wezeman at No. 2 singles. Lis' victory was followed by junior
Benny Schweizer at the No. 5 position. He recorded a straight-sets victory over Leo Santos, 7-5, 6-1.
The Cardinals closed out the day with three more victories but seniors
Michael Feucht and
Juuso Laitinen had to battle through tiebreakers to pick up the victory.
The Cardinals will now turn their attention to A&M-Corpus Christi. If the Islanders defeat ACU Wednesday it sets up a rematch of last year's regular-season finale – two undefeated schools playing for the regular-season title. The match against the Islanders will begin Friday, April 21 at 2 p.m. from the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Complex in Corpus Christi.
"We know the position this victory puts us in," said Shankles. "This series has turned into a great rivalry. We now can focus on only A&M-Corpus Christi. We are preparing for a very tough match."
-LU CARDINALS-
