Box Score TULSA, Okla. – Lamar University opened day two of an eight-match road swing against Valparaiso Saturday evening in Tulsa. It also marks the team's second match in as many days. It was a tough afternoon for LU who dropped a 7-0 decision to the Crusaders in a match that was pushed back to a 6 p.m. start due to high winds in the Tulsa area.
 
"Valparaiso is a very tough team and deserved to win," said LU head coach Scott Shankles. "We were close in doubles again but we're not closing out games that will put us in a position to win the point. It was a tall order to be down 1-0 and try to beat a solid team like Valpo. We're continuing to learn through this tough non-conference part of the schedule. Tomorrow is a new day, and we're looking forward to the challenge of taking on Oral Roberts."
 
After dropping a match on court No. 3, the Cardinals were locked in tough battles at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles. Big Red was all tied up at 6 on the second court, while Valpo's team of Chad Kissell and Brian Pecyna took a 6-5 lead heading into the 12^th game on court one. Unfortunately, the Cardinals' duo of freshmen Joshua Taylor and Axel Vila Antuna were unable to battle back dropping the match, 7-5, for the first point of the match.
 
Trailing 1-0, the Cardinals turned their focus to the singles courts but found themselves trying to fight back from deficits in all six matches as the Crusaders won all six first sets. Taylor had Valpo's Pecyna on the ropes at No. 4 singles but the Crusader managed to squeak out the victory, 7-6 (7-3). Pecyna held on to take the match with victory in the second set.
 
The Cardinals were in a similar position in the second set on court five. After dropping the opening set, 6-1, sophomore Arthur Serafim battled back to push the Crusaders' Daniel Langston to a tiebreak in the second but came up just short.
 
The Cardinals will look to get back in the win column Sunday when they take on Oral Roberts. The match is slated to begin at 6 p.m. in Tulsa.