BEAUMONT, Texas – After opening the season last week with a road doubleheader, the Lamar University men's tennis team returns to Beaumont to open the home portion of its 2018 spring schedule. The youthful Cardinals (0-2) enter the weekend looking for their first victory of the season after opening the year with setbacks to Bryant University and No. 15 Oklahoma State last week in Stillwater, Okla.
 
The Cardinals now turn their attention to the home opener Friday against Denver. The match against the Pioneers is slated to begin at 1 p.m. from the Thompson Family Center.
 
Friday's match will serve as the season opener for Denver who is looking to build on a strong 2016-17 season. The Pioneers finished last season with a 13-13 overall record and won The Summit League regular-season and tournament titles with a perfect run (6-0). Denver's season came to an end in the opening round of the NCAA Championships against Southern California.
 
Denver comes to the Golden Triangle in a similar position as LU. The Pioneers also have a very young roster which includes five freshmen and two sophomores, and only one senior.
 
The Cardinals will have very little time to relax before hitting the court again Saturday for their second doubleheader in as many weeks. The Cardinals will host former Southland foe Oral Roberts at 10 a.m. followed by a 2 p.m. match against Prairie View A&M. Saturday's match will also serve as the season opener for ORU.
 
ORU posted a 9-12 record last season and carried the fight down to the wire for The Summit League title falling short by one match with a 3-1 record.
 
The Panthers enter the week 0-1 after dropping their season opener at Rice, 6-1, this past Sunday. Prairie View A&M is looking to rebound from a tough 2016-17 season that saw them post a 5-25 (.167) overall record. The Panthers head to Beaumont looking to put an end to a tough stretch that has seen them drop 9 of their last 10 matches dating back to last season.
 
-LU CARDINALS-