NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Lamar University women's tennis team kicked off the Southland Fall Master's Invitational Thursday but the Cardinals came up just short in their two matches.
 
The duo of sophomores Luana Paiva and Arina Gudovskaya put up strong fight against McNeese's Leana Gomez and Erica Hagi. After LU dropped the opening set in a close battle, 7-5, Gudovskaya and Paiva battled right back in the second with an impressive 6-1 decision to force the super tiebreak. In the end, however, it was the Cowgirls' duo that escaped with a 10-4 decision. 
 
Gudovskaya returned to the court three hours after her doubles competition. She faced Stephen F. Austin's Felicia Back. The Ladyjacks' top singles player jumped out to an early lead with a hard-fought 6-4 decision in the first. She managed to keep Gudovskaya at arm's length with a 6-2 decision in the second.
 
The Cardinals now return home to get ready for their home tournament. LU will host the Joe Pyburn Memorial Invitational Friday, Oct. 31^st through Sunday, Nov. 2^nd, at the Thompson Family Tennis Center.