BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University got back in the win column defeating Southern University, 5-0, Thursday afternoon at the Thompson Family Tennis Center. The victory put an end to a minor two-match slide and moved the Cardinals to 3-6 (.333) on the season.
 
The Cardinals raced out to an early 1-0 lead with victories at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, including a shutout 6-0 decision from LU's Joan Crespo and Martin Garcia-Ripoll over Southern's Gabriel Inyang and Jaiden Dominguez at line 2.
 
Lamar carried its momentum from doubles into singles and only seemed to get stronger. Junior, and Port Neches product, Jonah Smith waisted little time turning the Cardinals one-point lead into a two-point advantage at No. 4 singles. Smith defeated Dominguez, 6-0, 6-0, for the second and third shutout sets of the day.
 
Freshman Stefano Chappuis followed suit with similar dominant performance on court three. Chappuis defeated Inyang, 6-1, 6-1 to give the Cardinals a 3-0 advantage. Big Red closed out the day with impressive wins from Leon Nickel (No. 1 singles) and Crespo (No. 2) to close out the match.
 
With the overall team victory in the books there was no need to play out matches at Nos. 5 or 6 singles.
 
Thursday's victory was key as the Cardinals prepare for a stretch that will see them hit the road for four of the next five. Big Red opens the road swing Friday, Feb. 23^rd when they travel to Tulsa, Okla., to face Oral Roberts.