HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Lamar University women's tennis team started quick and finished strong taking down former Southland Conference foe Sam Houston, 4-3, in a thriller Friday afternoon.
 
The back-and-forth affair was close throughout, but the Cardinals took advantage of just about every opportunity Friday improving to 5-3 on the season. The thrilling victory put a stop to a minor two-match skid.
 
Big Red opened the day with wins at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles to take the opening point of the match. The point was pivotal as Sam Houston was holding a one-game lead on court 2 when play was halted.
 
Unfortunately for Lamar, the momentum didn't last as the Bearkats responded with wins on courts 1 and 6 singles for their first lead of the day. Freshman Marika Mueller put a stop to the run with her straight-sets decision at No. 2 singles. She defeated SHSU's Sahithi Vutukuru, 6-2, 6-3.
 
Sophomore Megan Do then put the Cardinals back out in front with her victory at the No. 3 spot. She had a tough opening set against Sam Houston's India Fenieys which went to a tiebreak. Fortunately, the Nederland, Texas native outlasted Fenieys in the first and cruised to victory in the second set, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.
 
With Do's victory on the scoreboard, the Cardinals needed to win just one of the two remaining courts. Lamar didn't have to wait long to get the final point as freshman Natalia Turczuk rattled off a three-set decision over the Bearkats' Roberta Sechi, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
 
Sam Houston closed out the match by winning on the final court but by that time the overall team decision had already been decided.
 
The Cardinals will be back in action Sunday when they travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. to face Southern Mississippi.