For Immediate Release Mar. 23, 2019
 
Cards Win SLC Opener, Avenge Early Season Loss
 
BEAUMONT, Texas – For the second time this season the Lamar University men's tennis team stepped on the court to take on New Orleans, but Saturday's match marked the first time the two teams met this season in a Southland Conference matchup. In the first meeting, the Cardinals (6-13/1-0 SLC) dropped a close decision, but LU answered back Saturday with a 4-3 victory to take the SLC opener.
 
"The differences between our struggles Tuesday and the match today came down to a couple of things," said LU head coach Scott Shankles. "First, we practiced really well on Thursday and Friday to prepare for UNO. The guys did a few things differently during practice that I really think helped them today. The other thing they did differently was they brought energy from the beginning of the match all the way through to the very end, especially when we needed Josh to pull through."
 
Similar to the first meeting, the match was close and saw one team score on one court only to have the other answer right back on the next. It was fitting that the final match went to a third set before being decided.
 
Despite picking up the overall victory, the Cardinals found themselves having to climb out of an early hole throughout the match. After falling behind 1-0 in doubles, the Cardinals battled back to tie the match only to watch the Privateers (6-8/0-1 SLC) surge back out in front. The cat-n-mouse game continued until UNO claimed a 3-2 lead, and that is when the Cardinals took control.
 
"The only different between today's match and the one at the beginning of the season was the clinching match came down to a different player," said Shankles. "For UNO, it was Kramer in the deciding match both times but last time he faced Arthur (Serafim). This time he was having to face a different guy for us in Josh (Taylor). I think what really helped Josh clinch this afternoon was our fan support. We had an amazing crowd here today. I've always felt that way about the Beaumont community. We have a great tennis fan base here and they're vocal in their support."
 
UNO claimed a 3-2 lead after picking up a straight-sets decision on court No. 6, which left the pressure squarely on the shoulders of sophomore Arthur Serafim (No. 4 singles) and Joshua Taylor (No. 5). Taylor's match at No. 5 was forced to a third set while Serafim was up in the second after a hard-fought tiebreak victory in the first.
 
Shortly after the match on court five resumed with the third and final set, Serafim put his opponent (Johannes Klein) away with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 decision to tie the overall match at 3. The doorway to a victory was now focused on the No. 5 position.
 
After Taylor took a thrilling opening set in a tiebreak, the Privateers' Nicolas Kramer fought back to take the second. The third set was just as tough but saw Taylor grab a lead late and not surrender it back. Taylor defeated his opponent, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-4 to hand the Red and White the Southland-opening win.
 
The Cardinals will be back in action Saturday, Mar. 30 when they host Rice. The match against the Owls will begin at 11 a.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.