BEAUMONT, Texas – As women's tennis now moves to the Southland Conference portion of its schedule, the Lamar University Cardinals are hoping for more cooperation from Mother Nature. Due to a rainy start to the spring semester, the Cardinals have had four matches cancelled and numerous others changed to different venues.
 
The Red and White will open Southland play beginning Saturday at Stephen F. Austin. LU enters the week with a 1-5 (. 167) overall record looking to put an end to a three-match slide since their shutout victory over Prairie View A&M. Since that time, the Cardinals have lost out on two matches due to the weather.
 
The Ladyjacks have had a very tough start to the 2018 season. SFA enters the weekend matchup still looking for their first victory of the season (0-7). The Ladyjacks have been shut out four times this season, and held to a single point once. SFA is coming off a 6-1 setback at Memphis over a week ago. Saturday's match against the Ladyjacks will begin at noon from the Schlief Tennis Complex.
 
The Cardinals will be back in action less than 24 hours later when they travel to Natchitoches, La., for an 11 a.m. match against Northwestern State. The Demons are 4-5 (.444) on the season and have won three of their past four matches, but are coming off a 5-0 setback at Houston. Prior to Northwestern State's loss to the Cougars they had rattled off wins against UTSA, Texas State and Connecticut. The Demons will host Sam Houston State Friday before facing LU.
 
The match against the Demons will begin at 11 a.m. from the Jack Fisher Lady Demon Complex.
 
The Cardinals will return home the following week for their Southland home opener against Abilene Christian. The match against the Wildcats will begin at 2 p.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
-LU CARDINALS-