BEAUMONT, Texas – It was the way a match between two former conference rivals was supposed to play out, but Lamar University came out on the short end of a 4-2 decision against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Wednesday afternoon at the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
The loss snaps LU's (8-4) win streak at seven matches.
 
A contest between two teams who combined the dominant the Southland Conference for years before LU left for the Western Athletics Conference was just like old times, except for the fact that Thursday's contest was a non-conference tilt. The showdown saw five singles matches go to a third set, with three tiebreak decisions (including the match at No. 1 doubles).
 
The Cardinals' duo of Max Amling and Filippo Salsini got the Cardinals off on the right foot with a decisive win. Big Red's duo defeated the Islanders' Ulysse Bertrand and Matthieu Peres, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles. Unfortunately, the Islanders would rally back with a win on court 3 followed by 7-6 decision at No. 1.
 
The Cardinals fought back to tie the match up in singles when freshman Daniel Sancho Arbizu recorded a down-to-the-wire 7-5, 7-5 match in straight sets over Pascal Lorieul. Oddly, the match on court 1 would be the shortest match of the day as all five remaining courts went to a third set.
 
After the Islanders reclaimed a one-point lead, the Cardinals were able to tie things back up on court 2. After dropping the opening set, freshman Juan Jose Rodriguez battled back for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision at No. 2 singles to pull LU even at 2-2.
 
With the overall match tied, and three courts remaining, the contest was very much a tossup, but the Islanders took advantage of some late opportunities to pick up victory on courts 4 and 3, respectively for the overall team title. After A&M-Corpus Christi wrapped up the team victory, the two teams elected to halt the match on court 6.
 
Things don't get any easier for the Cardinals, as they hit the road for College Station Friday to take on Texas A&M. The match against the nation's 28^th-ranked squad will is slated to begin at 2 p.m.