BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's tennis team returns to action Saturday when they travel to Baton Rouge, La., to compete in the LSU Invite. The two-day, three-match event will consist of eight teams. In addition to LU and the tournament-host Tigers, the field consists of South Florida, Penn State, UL Lafayette, Georgia State, Nicholls and New Orleans.
 
The two-day event will take place LSU Tennis Complex beginning at 8 a.m. The Cardinals will kick off the tournament against host LSU. Based on the outcome of the match against LSU, the Cardinals will face either Georgia State or UNO in the second round. If the Cards win their opening match, they will play Saturday at 2 p.m. Should LU falter in their first match they would play in the consolation bracket beginning at 1 p.m.
 
The tournament format for matches Saturday will break from standard regular-season play. Due to the fact that eight matches will be played on the first day of the tournament teams will open with singles competition instead of doubles. If the overall outcome can be decided in singles no doubles matches will be played.
 
The Cardinals step on the court looking for their first win of the season after a tough start at Texas Tech. Big Red took on both the Red Raiders and New Mexico during their opening weekend of the season but came up short in both matches.
 
The Bayou Bengals enter Saturday's contest looking to move to 3-0 on the season. LSU opened the year with victories over Alabama State and UAB. In fact, LSU has yet to be scored on this season recording 4-0 decisions in their first two matches of the season.
 
Georgia State's tournament-opening match against New Orleans will serve as their 2019 season opener. The Panthers posted a 14-11 mark last season that saw GSU advance all the way to the conference tournament finals before bowing out to South Alabama.
 
The Privateers head into the weekend looking to get back to the .500 mark on the season. UNO is 1-2 (.333) in the early part of the season after dropping matches to Florida State and UL Lafayette. UNO's lone victory came against Florida A&M. All three of UNO's matches so far this season have been shutouts.
 
Following the conclusion of the LSU Invite, the Cardinals return home to open the home portion of their schedule. Big Red will kick off a three-match homestand beginning Saturday, Feb. 10 against UTSA.