BEAUMONT, Texas – It has been a rough start to the 2018 season for Lamar University's youthful men's tennis team. Despite coming off a season-opening win over Jacksonville State last time out, the Cardinals have had a tough time just getting on the court. Each of the past three weeks the Cardinals have either had match postponed, canceled or change of venue due to the weather.
 
The Cardinals hope those issues are all behind them as they turn their focus to three matches in two days. Big Red opens this stretch with a doubleheader Monday. The first match will be against Troy (10 a.m.) followed by an afternoon match against Southern Mississippi (2 p.m.). Both matches will be play in Hattiesburg, Miss.
 
The Trojans enter the week looking for their first victory of the season (0-3) after dropping matches to Mississippi, North Florida and Elon. Their last outing – versus Elon – was a tough loss as Troy was edged by just a point, 4-3. The Trojans will face Southern Mississippi before taking on the Cardinals.
 
Southern Miss enters the week on a bit of a hot streak winning three straight after a season-opening loss at Mississippi. The Golden Eagles are coming off at impressive 6-1 decision over Alabama State but they've also had to deal with Mother Nature disrupting their schedule. Southern Miss has had four matches postponed this season.
 
The Cardinals will return to action Tuesday when they travel to Mobile, Ala., to take on South Alabama. The Jaguars are 1-3 (.250) on the season but have dropped three consecutive entering the week, including a tough one-point setback at Auburn. Tuesday's match is slated to begin at noon.
 
This week's matches kick off a long stretch for the Cardinals away from Beaumont. Big Red doesn't return to the Thompson Family Tennis Center until Saturday, March 10, when it opens Southland Conference play against Abilene Christian.
 
-LU CARDINALS-