BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's tennis team will open the 2020 spring season Friday when they travel to Stillwater, Okla. for a doubleheader, but against two different team. The season will officially kick off at 9 a.m. with a match against Bryant. The Cardinals will be back on the court at 1:30 p.m. to face No. 15. Oklahoma State.
 
The Cardinals are looking to bounce back from a rough 2019 season that saw them finish 6-18 (.250) and just miss the Southland Conference Championships with a 1-4 (.200) record. The youthful Cardinals were forced to the play the entire season without two of their top players, including senior Sebastian Santibanez who is expected back this season.
 
With another year of experience under their belt, the Cardinals roster, which was primarily freshmen and sophomores last year, turns to a more veteran squad in 2020. In addition to retuning 2019 starters Nicolas Mayr, Carlos Paton Canal, Axel Vila Antuna, Joshua Taylor and Brock Lauer, LU head coach Scott Shankles has also added transfer Joshua Sundaram and incoming freshmen Blessing Benibo and Filippo Salsini to the roster.
 
Bryant is coming off a strong 2019 campaign that saw them post a 20-11 (.645) overall record and win the Northeast Conference title with a perfect 6-0 record. The Bulldogs rolled through the conference tournament to advance to the NCAA Championships where their season came to an end against No. 16 seed Columbia.
 
Oklahoma State also finished the season in the NCAA Championships last year after posting a 16-12 (.571) overall record. The Cowboys ended the season with some big victories knocking off No. 7 TCU in the conference tournament to advance to the second round. OSU went 1-1 in the NCAA Championships with an opening-round victory over No. 32 Mississippi before losing in the second round to UCLA.
 
Friday's match against Bryant will serve as the season opener for both schools, while OSU is 1-0 on the young season after knocking San Diego State Sunday. Both matches will be played at the Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater, Okla.