BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's tennis team didn't waste time putting wins up on the board Saturday in the opening round of the Joe Pyburn Memorial Tournament. The Cardinals finished the day with nine victories, including seven singles wins.
 
The Cardinals' duo of Femke Tjon-a-Joe and Noelia Lorca cruised past Sam Houston's McKenzy Byfield and Anastasiia Khokhlova, 6-1. The duo of Ana Jolic and Megan Do defeated Stephen F. Austin's Elena Bleicher and Saga Koch, 6-1.
 
After LU's second doubles' victory, the squad turned its attention to the single competition. In flight A, Tjon-a-Joe held the momentum gained from doubles defeating SFA's Zala Ule, 6-4, 6-0. Newcomer Emma Shasteen took the court in flight B singles along with teammate Ana Jolic. Shasteen recorded a 2-6, 6-0, 10-7 victory over Khohklova. Jolic followed with a straight-sets victory over Sam Houston's Vianne Schwab, 6-3, 6-2.
 
The matchup between LU and Sam Houston was the first of three consecutive as Do defeated the Bearkats' Byfield, 6-3, 6-3, and Margarita Nikonorova bested SHSU's Linn Svard, 6-4, 6-2.
 
Junior Elena Rubio closed out the opening round of singles action with a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Koch.
 
The Cardinals return to the courts Sunday at 9 a.m. for the final day of action in the Joe Pyburn Memorial Invitational tournament.