BEAUMONT, Texas – After finally being able to get their Southland Conference opener played (after multiple weather postponements), the Lamar University women's tennis team (6-4) will step away from conference play for four non-conference matches over the course of the next week.
 
Winners of two of their last three, the Cardinals will open the week Sunday with a 10 a.m. (Thompson Family Tennis Center) match against UTEP. The Miners (2-9) have had a slow start to the season but have split their last two matches posting a one-point victory against Abilene Christian before being shutout by Louisiana Tech. The Cardinals are 3-4 all-time against UTEP in a series which dates back to the 1993 season. Lamar is 2-1 all-time against UTEP in Beaumont but Sunday will be the Miners first trip to Beaumont since the 2011 season.
 
North Dakota will be in Beaumont Tuesday for a 9 a.m. match. UND (6-7) is playing some of its best tennis of the season having won its last four contests. North Dakota will take on Oral Roberts Saturday before traveling to the Golden Triangle. Tuesday will be the first meeting between the two schools.
 
The Cardinals will then return to the court Thursday to face NJIT. The Highlanders are in the midst of one of their best seasons in program history. NJIT is 11-1 (.917) and riding a 10-match win streak, with the lone loss coming to Rutgers. The Highlanders will be in San Antonio Tuesday to face UIW before coming to Beaumont. Thursday's match will start at noon from the Thompson Family Tennis Center and will be the first meeting between the two programs.
 
The Cardinals will close out the week with a road trip to UT Rio Grande Valley (5-6) Sunday, Mar. 17. The Vaqueros have dropped three straight and five of the previous six with the lone win during that stretch coming against Texas A&M-Kingsville. UTRGV will face Morgan State and North Dakota before stepping on the court with LU. Sunday's match is set for a 10 a.m. start from the Orville I. Cox Tennis Center. The Cardinals are 19-7 (.731) all-time against UTRGV(formerly UT Pan American), which includes a 5-3 record in Edinburg.