EDINBURG, Texas -- Lamar University jumped out to a quick start Friday against UT Rio Grande Valley but the Vaqueros weathered the storm and escaped with a 4-3 victory. 
 
A back-and-forth match, Friday's non-conference showdown consisted of four three-setters and one court that had a set decided in a tiebreak. 
 
After having the start of the match delayed more than two hours Lamar came out firing. Big Red appeared to send a message in doubles play taking all three courts, including a shutout on court 3. 
 
That momentum carried into singles as Lamar won four first sets, and had the match on court three go to a tiebreak before UTRGV salvaged a win, but that is where the wheels came off. On four of those five courts the Cardinals were forced to a third set. Unfortunately, the Vaqueros managed to steal each match that went to a third set where they lost the first set. 
 
While courts 1, 2 and 4 were headed to a third set, the Cardinals' Joan Crespo held serve at the No. 5 position defeating UTRGV's Paolo Bonaguro, 6-4, 6-1, to slow down the Vaqueros' momentum momentarily. 
 
Ironically, LU's Haruki Omori-Cowie (who dropped his first set) battled back to win his match in three sets at line 6. Unfortunately, that is where the good news stopped for the Red and White as UTRGV won all three courts where they dropped the opening set and picked up a straight-sets victory on court two. 
 
The Cardinals will have to quickly put Friday's setback behind them as they head to Houston Sunday for a match against Rice. The match versus the Owls is set to begin at 11 a.m. from the George R. Brown Tennis Center.