CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Lamar University jumped out to an early lead, but it wasn't enough as New Orleans rallied for a 4-3 victory in a back-and-forth singles competition to end Big Red's season in the Southland Conference Tournament semifinals.
 
The Cardinals jumped out in front during doubles play picking up wins on courts 1 and 3 for the point. The all-conference duo of Max Amling and Filippo Salsini defeated UNO's Karim Al-Amin and Espen Lagarde, 6-2, for the first victory. Big Red's Martin Garcia-Ripoll and Gustav Hasslegren defeated New Orleans' Matthew Armbruster and Lilian Dubois, 6-3, on court 3.
 
The Cardinals held that momentum early in singles taking leads on three of the six singles courts, but UNO would rally. The Privateers won five first sets. New Orleans managed to tie the match at 1 with their straight-set singles victory at No. 3 singles. That win started a three-point rally that would have the Cardinals with their backs against the wall down 3-1, but LU would respond.
 
Junior Brandon Do took a straight-sets decision over UNO's Matthew Armbruster at the No. 6 position to pull the Cardinals within one. Joan Crespo then followed with a thrilling three-set victory that saw him drop the opening set only to rally for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 decision over Luke Joujan. Crespo's victory tied the overall match up at 3 with only court one remaining.
 
After dropping the opening set, 7-5, sophomore Max Amling rallied for a 7-5 decision in the second to force a third against Max Heinzel. In the end, Heinzel was able to gain an advantage and held on for the 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 victory to send UNO into the Saturday's championship match.
 
The Cardinals end the 2023 season with an 11-12 (.478) overall and their third conference player of the year award in as many seasons.