SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Lamar University men's tennis team took a break from Southland Conference action Sunday afternoon to face UTSA in a non-conference road match. The Cardinals built a 2-1 advantage only to see the hometown team rally to edge the Red and White, 4-3.
 
The Cardinals took the opening match of the day by posting a 6-3 victory on court No. 1 doubles. Unfortunately, the doubles' victory by junior Logan Powell and senior Benny Schweizer would be the only win the Cards could muster in falling behind early, 1-0.
 
LU didn't allow the early setback to hamper their start in singles. Big Red roared out of the gate to take the first two singles matches. Freshman Roy Stepanov recorded a dominate performance at No. 6 singles defeating Patrick Poestinger, 6-0, 6-1.
 
The Cardinals held the momentum to take their first lead of the day with another straight-sets decision on court 2. Schweizer overpowered the Roadrunners' Gabriel Bugiga, 6-3, 6-2.
 
UTSA battled back to reclaim the advantage with wins on courts 5 and 3, respectively. The two UTSA wins forced the Cards into a position of needing wins on the final two courts for the overall win. The Cardinals got a win at No. 4 singles when Nicolas Mayr ousted Javier Gonzalez, 6-4, 6-4, to tie the match at 3.
 
The deciding point came down to No. 1 singles, which went to a third set before being decided. Junior Sebastian Santibanez dropped the opening set, 6-4, but rallied for a 6-2 decision in the second. Unfortunately for the Cards, Santibanez didn't have enough gas in the tank and dropped the third set, 6-1.
 
The Cardinals return to action Friday when they will host Nicholls. The match against the Colonels will begin at 3 p.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
-LU CARDINALS-