BEAUMONT, Texas – Just days after a long, emotional Southland Conference opener, the shorthanded Lamar University women's tennis team was matched up in another long battle. Unfortunately, the Cardinals fell behind early and never fully recovered dropping a 5-2 decision to St. Mary's.
 
The match, which lasted more than four hours, saw freshman Asta Miettinen and junior Megan Do record a dominant 6-3 decision over Janell Ospanova and Stela Sifuentes at No. 1 doubles. Unfortunately, the Cardinal duo was left hanging as the Rattlers took wins on courts 2 and 3 for the point.
 
The Cardinals battled back to tie the match at No. 3 singles. Again it was Do who came through picking up the equalizer with her 6-2, 6-2 decision over Paula Garrote, but the Rattlers managed to push their lead to two following victories at Nos. 4 and 5 singles.
 
Freshman Arina Gudovskaya got Lamar back within a point with her hard-fought three-set victory over St. Mary's Ospanova at the No. 1 position. With Gudovskaya's victory in the books the Cardinals would need to sweep the final two matches for the overall win but St. Mary's won both courts in three setters for the final decision.
 
The Cardinals will look to get back in the win column Saturday when they take on Battle of the Border rival McNeese. The match against the Cowgirls will begin at 1 p.m. in Lake Charles, La.