ABILENE, Texas – Lamar University will step on the court Saturday to play for a shot at the Western Athletic Conference title after defeating Chicago State, 6-1, Friday morning in Abilene, Texas. Friday's victory sets up a showdown with New Mexico State Saturday for the outright conference title.
 
The Cardinals (15-6/5-0 WAC) scored the first six points of the day to cruise to the lopsided victory – the team's third 6-1 victory in the last four matches. LU won seven of the first eight matches on the day (five singles and two doubles) to lock up their fifth conference victory of the season.
 
Big Red took the doubles point with identical 7-5 decisions on courts 1 and 3. With the doubles points already in the Red (and White) column, the Cards pressed on the accelerator. The Cardinals made it a 2-0 lead on court No. 1 singles after Daniel Sancho Arbizu defeated Pedro Alvarez, 6-2, 6-1. LU then looked to the bottom part of the lineup as sophomore Brandon Do followed suit moments later with another straight-sets decision. Do defeated Chicago State's Jakub Zamorski, 6-1, 6-4, to give the Cardinals and insurmountable lead.
 
The clinching match(es) came on courts 2 and 3, as both courts finished simultaneously. Freshman Juan Jose Rodriguez took the win on court two while classmate Max Amling recorded a victory at the No. 3 position. The Cougars didn't manage their first point until after freshman Martin Garcia-Ripoll picked up the team's sixth point on court No. 4.
 
The Cardinals returns to action Saturday when they step on the court to face New Mexico State. The match against the Aggies will be at 4 p.m. from Abilene, Texas.