BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's tennis team hosted Alcorn State for a doubleheader Friday. The Cardinals recorded shutout victories in both matches winning the first, 7-0, and posting a 6-0 victory in the second match. These two victories are the first of the season for LU, putting them at 2-5 on the year.

In the first match, the Cards got the early point by winning the doubles. Junior Nicolas Mayr and Sophomore Axel Vila Antuna came together to win their set 6-0. Not far behind them, freshman Blessing Benibo and sophomore Joshua Taylor finished their set 6-1. It was a quick point for the Cardinals moving into the singles matches.

Junior Carlos Paton Canal got the Cards rolling in the singles. He was able to defeat his opponent with scores of 6-1 and 6-2. Shortly after Paton Canal finished, his teammate Sebastian Santibanez wrapped up his match. He won both sets as well with scores of 6-0 and 6-1.

Mayr and junior Joshua Sundaram kept the momentum going. Both were able to keep their opponent from earning a set. Mayr came away winning 6-4 and 6-1, while Sundaram finished off his opponent, 6-3 and 6-2.

After the Cardinals took the first match of the doubleheader, they went straight into the second match of the day. The Cardinals kept their solid play going when Paton Canal and Sundaram got a 6-0 win in their doubles matchup. Senior Brock Lauer and freshman Filippo Salsini wasted no time getting a 6-1 win. This gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the second match of the day.

In similar fashion, Vila Antuna wasted very little time on court 1 before giving his team their second point of the match. He beat his opponent 6-2 and 6-3.

Taylor continued the hot streak. He was able to put his opponent away with 6-1 and 6-2 wins. This gave the Cards their third point of the match.

Salsini was able to fight through a tough first set and come out with a 7-5 win. After the first set, Salsini got down to business. He won the second set 6-0.

Benibo showed what he was made of in his first singles match of the day. He captured a point for the Cardinals winning in two sets 6-2 and 6-3.

The Cardinals dominated the doubleheader to give them their first two wins of the season. On top of that, they didn't give up a single set in either of the matches.

It won't be long until the Cardinals are back on the court. On Sunday, Feb. 9, they will host UT Arlington at the Thompson Family Tennis Center in Beaumont. The match is scheduled for 11 A.M.