BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's tennis team jumped out to a strong start last week winning both of their Western Athletic Conference-opening matches, but that was last week and things don't get any easier for the Red and White. The Cardinals now turn their attention to UT Rio Grande Valley (Friday) and Abilene Christian (Sunday).
 
The Cardinals (10-6/2-0 WAC) are currently in a three-way tie for first in the WAC (ACU and New Mexico State) with their 2-0 record, and currently sit just a match up on UT Rio Grande Valley. Big Red has enters the week having won consecutive matches and nine of its previous 12 and is 5-3 (.625) on its home court.
 
UT Rio Grande Valley is looking to pull even with the Red and White bringing a 4-11 (.267) overall record and a 1-1 (.500) conference mark to town. Winners in three of their past four matches, the Vaqueros opened conference play with a split last week in Las Cruces, falling to New Mexico State but defeating Chicago State, 4-3.
 
The series between the two schools is one of the longest in program history dating back to the 1968 season, but it is one that has favored UTRGV. The Cardinals trail the all-time series to UTRGV, 23-32 (.418), a mark that includes a 10-11 (.476) record against the Vaqueros in Beaumont. The series has started to swing back in favor of the Cardinals during head coach Scott Shankles' tenure. The two schools have split the previous four meetings, but Shankles' squad has won eight of the last 10.
 
Friday's contest is set to begin at 11 a.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
The Cardinals will then have 48 hours to get ready for Abilene Christian squad that has turned things around after a slow start. The Wildcats (6-10) open the year 0-6 in a daunting schedule that included two top-five opponents. ACU has won four of its last six matches and opened the year 2-0 in conference play, recording shutouts over Seattle and Chicago State.
 
The history between LU and the Wildcats also dates back to the 1968 season. The Cardinals lead the all-time series between the two schools, 12-10 (.545), but is 4-4 (.500) at home. ACU has won each of the past three meetings, but prior to that the Cards had rattled off three straight and seven of eight.
 
Sunday's match against the Wildcats is slated to begin at 11 a.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.