FORT SMITH, Ark. – Lamar University traveled to Arkansas Saturday to open a stretch that will have the Cardinals play three matches in just over 24 hours. The trip got off to a strong start Saturday as the Cardinals swept a doubleheader from Arkansas-Fort Smith. The Cardinals took the opening match, 5-2 and came back in the second to record a thrilling 4-3 decision.
 
With the two victories, the Cardinals improve to 4-2 (.667) on the season.
 
The Cardinals jumped out to the early lead winning the doubles point with victories at courts 1 and 3. The Red and White carried that momentum into singles play where it raced out to wins at Nos. 4 and 2 singles, respectively. Freshman Louis Drapeau extended the Cardinals lead with a straight-sets decision over UAFS's Killian Darneaux, 6-0, 6-3, then Fabian Anthin put the Cardinals on the doorstep of an overall team victory with his two setter on court 2.
 
While the Lions picked up a victory at No. 1 singles to trim the deficit, junior Guy Dagan put the match away with his 6-0, 6-4 victory over Fort Smith's Kevin Praphan on court 6. The two schools split the remaining two matches for the final score.
 
Following a recess, the two teams returned to the court for the afternoon match. LU head coach Scott Shankles flipped his roster around to give some new guys a chance to play in different spots on the ladder. The second match was closer but the Cardinals still prevailed.
 
The second match followed a similar script to the first and saw the Cards even more dominant in doubles taking all three matches for the early 1-0 lead. Big Red again carried the momentum from doubles into singles play storming out to a 3-0 lead before Arkansas-Fort Smith could get on the scoreboard. The Lions managed to trim the deficit down to a single point but Lamar didn't allow their hosts to get any closer slamming the door shut with Haruki Omori-Cowie's three-set decision over UAFS' Anis Ramchane, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
 
The Cardinals will be right back at it Sunday when they travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Razorbacks. The match is slated to begin at 5 p.m.