HAMMOND, La. – Lamar University bounced back from their heartbreaking setback to Northwestern State by taking a close 4-3 decision over Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond Friday afternoon. The victory is Big Red's first in Southland Conference play.
 
"This team fought every point of the match from the start of doubles all the way through the final point," said LU head coach David Wong. "I'm very proud of this team. Laura (Sola Grau) was placed in a tough position with the pressure of the deciding point falling on her shoulders, but that is a situation she has faced several times during her young career. I thought she handled it like a savvy veteran. The rest of the team did a great job putting her in the position of being able to win the overall match on court five."
 
LU (7-4/1-2 SLC) was undaunted after dropping the doubles point turning frustration into momentum on the singles courts. After falling behind 2-0, the Cardinals began their climb out of an early hold. The Cardinals got on the scoreboard when junior Natalia Garcia Molina recorded a straight-sets decision over Ximena Yanez, 6-3, 6-2. Big Red pulled even on court No. 1 when senior Jasmin Buchta won two hard fought sets over the Lions' Putri Insani, 6-4, 7-5.
 
After pulling even, the Cardinals momentarily surrendered the lead as the Lions got a win on court six. The lead was short lived as senior Bianca Vitale responded with a straight-sets decision. Despite nursing an injury, Vitale posted a 7-5, 7-6 (12-10) victory against SLU's Flory Bierma.
 
With the match now tied at three, the outcome would come down to the match on court No. 5 and sophomore Laura Sola Grau. Stepping into the spotlight Sola Grau dispensed the Lions' Teodora Mitrovic, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
 
The Cardinals don't have long to celebrate the victory as they will be in Lake Charles, La., Sunday for the women's tennis version of the Battle of the Border. The match against McNeese will begin at Sunday at 11 a.m.