BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's tennis team (13-6/5-2 Southland) enters the week looking to bounce back from consecutive losses and its first home loss of the season. The Cardinals, who will be hosting McNeese (Saturday) and Nicholls (Sunday), are trying to regroup after losses to Sam Houston State and Houston.
 
Big Red is off to its best start since the 2011 season when it won 19 matches. The Cardinals 13 victories ties for the 11^th-best single-season mark in program history with four matches remaining in the regular season.
 
Despite the team's conference setback last week, the Cardinals remain in the hunt for the regular-season title. LU is currently in third place overall just a half game back of Abilene Christian. Big Red is just a game back of league leader Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, who the Cardinals defeated earlier this year.
 
Despite sitting alone in third place, the Cardinals are locked in a traffic jam atop the Southland standings. LU is one of three teams with two conference losses, while three other schools have just three losses.
 
The combined conference record of the four remaining teams for the Cardinals is 10-22 (.313), with matches against the 11^th and 12^th-place teams in the league still remaining.
 
The first obstacle the Cardinals must clear will be against rival McNeese. The Cowgirls are 9-10 (.474) on the season and clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot with three matches remaining. McNeese is .500 (4-4) in conference contests, just a half game back of Sam Houston State and a game back of Northwestern State and New Orleans.
 
The Cowgirls have split their last four decisions, but have dropped five of its past seven outings. McNeese is coming off a five-point setback against Central Arkansas less than a week ago. Saturday's match will begin at 1 p.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
The Cardinals return to action less than 24 hours later when they host Nicholls for senior day. Nicholls is currently 11^th in the conference standings. The Colonels are 6-8 (.429) overall with a 1-7 (.125) league record. Nicholls comes to Beaumont with its back against the wall. Nicholls must win out, and have either McNeese or Sam Houston State lose its remaining matches to move into a tie for the final playoff spot.
 
The Colonels have dropped six consecutive matches, but will face Sam Houston State Saturday before coming to Beaumont. Sunday's match is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. from the Thompson Family Center but fans are encouraged to arrive early for the senior day ceremony. The LU class of 2017 will be recognized beginning at 1 p.m.


The Cardinals magic number to lock up a spot in the Southland Conference tournament is down to two. Any combination of two LU wins or two Stephen F. Austin losses will get the Cardinals in the tournament which they host beginning Friday, April 28. The SLC Championships will run through Sunday, April 30^th at the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center.
 
-LU CARDINALS-