BEAUMONT, Texas – It was a heartbreaking afternoon for the Lamar University men's tennis team who dropped a doubleheader Tuesday. The Cardinals opened the day with a 7-0 setback to 40^th-ranked Dartmouth Big Green in the morning match and dropped a 4-2 decision to Georgia Southern in the second match.
 
"Unfortunately, inconsistency has been our M.O. to this point," said LU head coach Scott Shankles. "We will have a couple guys play good and at the same time a couple won't be playing well. When you're playing quality opponents like Dartmouth and Georgia Southern you can't do that and expect to win. Dartmouth is ranked 40^th nationally and Georgia Southern is a very good Sun Belt team.
 
"We will go back to the practice courts beginning tomorrow and get back to work improving in this area, but our young guys have to understand this," added Shankles.
 
The Cardinals (5-13) never got into a rhythm in the opening match against Dartmouth. The Red and White forced two matches but came up short on both courts getting shutout by one of the nation's top teams. After a nearly two-hour break, the Cardinals returned to the Thompson Family Tennis to face another tough opponent – Georgia Southern.
 
Big Red got out to a much better start in the second match cruising through the doubles taking victories on courts 1 and 2. LU was tied at 4 on court No. 3 three when play was halted after they took the point.
 
The lead didn't last long as Georgia Southern answered back with consecutive wins on singles courts 6 and 2, respectively, placing the home team in a position of having to rally. Freshman Axel Vila Antuna was able to stop the run on court No. 1. Vila Antuna defeated the Eagles' Santiago Di Aloy, 6-3, 6-4, in straight sets to tie match at 2.
 
With the score tied at 2, the three remaining courts appeared to be heading to a third set. On court four, sophomore Arthur Serafim battled back from an opening set loss to force a third, while freshman Joshua Taylor was taken to a third after winning his opening set 6-0. Sophomore Carlos Paton Canal also battled back from a heartbreaking tiebreak loss in the first set to pick up a 6-2 decision in the second.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Georgia Southern held on for victories on courts 5 and 4, respectively, for the overall team win. Once the Eagles recorded their fourth point the match on court three was halted.
 
"We have been an up and down team up to this point," said Shankles. "That is not the way you want to begin the conference season as we get set to face New Orleans."
 
Tuesday's match was the team's final tune-up before opening conference play Saturday against New Orleans. The match against the Privateers will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.