BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's tennis team had to wait more than two months to host Prairie View A&M in a doubleheader at the Thompson Family Tennis Center. Originally scheduled for January, the two matches had to be postponed due to weather but it was worth the wait as LU recorded two impressive victories Tuesday afternoon at the Thompson Family Tennis Center. The Cardinals defeated PVAMU, 6-1, in the opening match, and came right back to record a 4-0 decision in the second.
"We were scheduled to play these guys earlier in the season, which really could have helped our guys gain some much needed experience," said LU head coach
Scott Shankles. "Unfortunately, Mother Nature didn't allow for that to happen. Having said that, it's always good to make sure you stay sharp as you head into important conference matches down the stretch so I'm happy that we were able to get these matches in."
The Cardinals surrendered a total of three sets in the 18 matches, which included four shutout sets. Big Red's dominant performance pushed its season-long win streak to four matches.
The Cardinals had little problem putting PVAMU away in the opening match taking the first six points of the day before dropping a tough three-setter on court three singles. Big Red steamrolled its way through the doubles winning all three matches, including a shutout on court two, for the point.
The Red and White managed to convert the quick start mentality into the singles competition winning the first set on all six courts. After taking a commanding lead in the opening set, it was the bottom half of the Cardinals order that locked up the victory. The freshmen duo of Carlos Paton Canal, junior Logan Powell and freshman Nicolas Mayr walked off the court in succession with easy straight-set victories on courts 6, 4 and 5, respectively, to hand LU the first half of the doubleheader.
"What hindered us during the first half of the year was not getting off to good starts, and if we did have good starts were unable to close those matches out," said LU head coach
Scott Shankles. "Our point of emphasis since the first of March has been to get out to better starts. The way you do that is by bringing the energy, and that is what we've been able to change."
Junior Sebastian Santibanez and senior Benny Schweizer closed out the scoring for LU with wins at Nos. 1 and 2 singles.
The Cardinals used the same formula in the second half of the doubleheader to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. Big Red picked off easy wins on courts 2 and 3 for the first lead of the match, a lead the Cards would not relinquish.
When the teams stepped on the court for singles, the players reversed roles. Taking their cue from the bottom half of the order in the opening match, it was the top of the Cardinals' lineup that led the way in match No. 2. Schweizer gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead with his straight sets victory over PVAMU's Ulrick Boyogueno, 6-1, 6-2. Moments later Santibanez gave the Red and White a 3-0 lead with his 6-0, 6-3, victory over Anirudh Yadav on court No. 1.
Santibanez put the Cardinals in position of needing just one win on the four remaining courts for the victory. The Cardinals took first-set leads on five of the six courts and it was Canal at No. 4 singles who wrapped up the doubleheader. Canal put an end to the competition when he defeated Zachary Suico, 6-3, 6-1.
The Cardinals return to action Saturday when they travel to San Antonio, Texas, to take on the Southland Conference's other Cardinals. The match against Incarnate Word will begin at 1 p.m.
-LU CARDINALS-
