BEAUMONT, Texas – After eight days between competitions, the Lamar University men's tennis team steps back on the court Saturday for its Southland Conference opener against the league's other Cardinals, UIW.
 
Beaumont's version of the Cardinals roll into the Alamo City riding a four-match win streak and boast a 13-8 (.619) overall record. Over the course of the last three matches, Big Red has outscored its opponents, 16-0.
 
Saturday will also serve as the league opener for UIW (6-5/0-0 SLC) but the SLC's other Cardinals enter the match from a slightly different perspective. After rattling off four consecutive wins where they outscored their last three opponents by a 12-0 score, UIW has dropped its last two contests.
 
Lamar and UIW are the two lone remaining traditional Southland teams to not yet have played a league contest. The winner of Saturday's match will automatically jump into third place in the standings despite being just one match into the season.
 
Saturday is set for an 11 a.m. start from San Antonio. The Cardinals will then a take a week before traveling to Edinburg, Texas to take on UT Rio Grande Valley.