BEAUMONT, Texas- The Lamar University men's tennis team will hit the road for a two game away stand, starting with a Friday match up against the SMU Mustangs in Dallas, Tx.
 
Last time out, the Cardinals extended their win streak to seven after sweeping a double header against Oral Roberts on Feb. 26. "We came out hot" said LU head coach Scott Shankles in response to the Cardinals display, and Big Red will need to emulate similar heat if they are to drive past the Mustangs this coming Friday.
 
Cardinals vs SMU, Friday Mar. 12 at 3 PM:
 
The Mustangs ride a 11-7 overall record on the season, and currently boast a two-game win streak following victories over Oral Roberts and their latest match seeing them seal an impressive victory over #35 San Diego. The Cardinals will be weary of the threat SMU pose given the convincing 4-1 decision against San Diego. The Mustangs Julian Steinhausen leads SMU with 10 dual match singles wins during the season. He's won eight of his last nine matches and has contributed to SMU's .579 singles record on the season.
 
The Cardinals will take great positives from their recent form and will look to none other than freshman Filippo Salsini to inspire their quest for victory. Salsini was named Southland Conference Player of the Week after he won all three of his matches over Oral Roberts; with both singles wins coming at No. 4 singles, and the doubles victory coming from the No. 3 position. The history books do not look favourably on the Cardinals having lost the previous nine encounters with SMU; however, the last match-up between the two programmes saw Big Red drop a tightly contested 3-4 decision in 2020.
 
Cardinals vs UT Arlington, Saturday Mar. 13 at 3 PM:
 
The Cardinals will return back to action no less than 24 hours after taking to the court against the Mustangs when they travel the short distance across Dallas to UT Arlington. The Mavericks are riding a 2-5 record on the season and come fresh off a 7-0 sweep against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Mar. 10. The Mavericks currently have a .436 record in singles play and .462 in doubles play, and the Cardinals will see this as a great opportunity to etch another victory on the season.
 
The two programmes have a rich history of competing against each other, stemming back since 1968, and Saturday's affair will be the 34th time they will meet. The last match up saw the Mavericks ride a 4-1 victory in 2020.
 
Following the two game away stand, the Cardinals will return to the Family Thompson Tennis Center when they host Baylor on Mar. 22 at 2 PM.