BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University closed out their season-opening five-match homestand Wednesday with a doubleheader sweep of Prairie View A&M. The Cardinals opened the day with a 5-2 victory and followed that up with a 4-1 decision in the afternoon match.
 
The second match played out the doubles point but elected to play clinch in the singles.
 
With the Panthers down a player, Lamar needed only one victory in doubles competition to pick up the point. The Cardinals got that victory from the duo of Leah Kuruvilla and Marika Mueller.
 
The Cardinals quickly turned their 1-0 lead into a three-point advantage with a forfeit victory on court 6 followed Martina Alcaino's straight-sets victory over Cierra Garcia, 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 5 position.
 
Lamar needed only one more victory to wrap up the first match and that came from freshman Natalia Turczuk at the No. 4 position. PVAMU managed to pick up two singles victories late but those came after Lamar had already locked up the win.
 
It was a similar path to victory for Big Red in the second match. After taking the doubles point, the Cardinals started singles play with victories at Nos. 6 and 5 singles respectively. Junior Elena Rubio put the Red and White on the verge of a sweep when she defeated the Panthers' Cierra Garcia, 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5.
 
PVAMU cut into the Lamar lead with a victory on court one before Lamar put the match away at the No. 2 position. Senior Leah Kuruvilla put an end to the day with her 6-3, 7-5, decision over PVAMU's Francesca Duca for the victory.
 
The Cardinals return to action Friday, Feb. 16, when they travel to Nacogdoches, Texas, to take on Stephen F. Austin. The match against the Ladyjacks is slated to begin at 2 p.m. from the Schlief Tennis Complex.