BEAUMONT, Texas – After four road matches to start the season, the Lamar University men's tennis team returns home to open a season-long three match homestand beginning Friday against UT Rio Grand Valley. The Cardinals (2-2) are riding a bit of early season momentum after sweeping a doubleheader at Prairie View A&M last time out.
 
The upcoming homestand will see Big Red square off against UT Rio Grande Valley and a doubleheader against Alcorn State (Feb. 13). Big Red also had a match scheduled against Southern Mississippi on Sunday but that match has been postponed due to positive COVID test results on the Golden Eagles' roster. A makeup date for Southern Miss has not yet been scheduled.
 
UTRGV enters the Friday afternoon showdown sporting a 2-1 (.667) overall record. The Vaqueros opened the season with consecutive shutout victories over Our Lady of the Lake and Howard Payne before dropping a 6-1 decision to UL Lafayette to close out the month of January.
 
Friday's meeting will be the 55^th all-time meeting between the two schools on the tennis courts. Unfortunately, the Vaqueros hold a 32-22 (.593) advantage over LU, but the Cardinals have won seven of the last 10 meetings. The Vaqueros have had some success in Beaumont recording a 9-11 (.450) all-time record. The two teams met last season prior to the COVID shutdown with UTRGV recording a 5-2 victory.
 
Friday's match is slated to begin at 1 p.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center. In case of rain, the Cardinals will move the match to the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Courts with a 1 p.m. start.