Box Score BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's tennis team took to the courts at the Thompson Family Tennis Center on a chilly afternoon Friday to face DePaul, but the Blue Demons spoiled the home opener defeating the Cardinals, 4-2.
 
DePaul took a 1-0 lead after winning the first two doubles matches. The Cardinals picked up one win in doubles – coming from juniors Jayci Wong and Ana Jolic – at No. 2 doubles. LU's duo defeated DePaul's Hannah Smith and Maddie Yergler, 6-4, but the decision came after the point had already been decided.
 
The Blue Demons tried to make a straight run to victory early in singles competition. The visitors picked off wins at Nos. 5 and 1, respectively, to take a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Noelia Lorca put a stop to the scoring drought with her victory on court No. 2. She defeated Smith, 6-3, 6-4.
 
Lorca's victory started a run for the Cardinals as freshman Margarita Nikonorova followed suit with a straight-sets decision at the No. 4 spot. Nikonorova defeated the Blue Demons' Lenka Antonijevic, 6-2, 6-2, pulling the Cardinals within a point, 3-2.
 
Unfortunately, that Cardinals could get no closer as the DePaul had leads on the final two courts and finished off the match with a victory on court 3.
 
Big Red returns to action Sunday when it hosts former league foe, Sam Houston. The match against the Bearkats is slated to begin at 2 p.m. from the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center.