Box Score THIBODAUX, La. – Lamar University's season came to an end Tuesday afternoon in a weather-delayed opening-round match at the 2025 Southland Conference Championships. The ninth-seeded Cardinals dropped a 4-2 decision to No. 8-seed UIW in a contest that came right down to the wire on every court including two matches that went to a third set. 
 
In addition to the two three-setters, including one where Lamar picked up the win, it also watched sophomore Savannah Bijlsma stave off seven match point battling back from a 5-2 deficit in the second to pull even on court 5, and extend the overall match to keep Big Red's hopes alive.
 
The loss ends Lamar's injury-plagued season at 5-18 (.217), despite catching fire late and entering the postseason as one of the league's hottest teams.
 
UIW took the first point of the match with wins at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles. As the two teams transitioned to the singles competition, Lamar was trying to bounce back by taking an opening-set lead at No. 4 singles. Freshman Luana Paiva got the best of UIW's Smilia Matrovic, 6-4. 
 
Following Paiva's opening-set victory, the match was delayed approximately five hours due to lightning in the area. When the two teams returned to action, San Antonio's version of the Cardinals had leads on five of six singles courts.  
 
UIW managed to hold on to two courts where they were leading to extend their overall advantage, while Paiva was headed to a third set on court 4. Big Red's Martina Alcaino stepped up to take her match at No. 6 singles to put Lamar on the scoreboard. Alcaino defeated UIW's McKenzy Byfield, 6-3, 6-1.
 
The good guys also got good news from freshman Asta Miettinen at No. 3 singles. After dropping her opening set, 6-4, she bounced back by recording a victory of her own – by the same score – to force a third set. With Miettinen locked in a tight battle in the third set, Paiva managed to pull out a three-set win over Matrovic, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, putting Lamar within a point. The momentum had clearly shifted in Big Red's favor as Bijlsma made her move on UIW's Luciana Paez at No. 5 singles. After trailing 5-2, down a set, Bijlsma pulled even heading into the 11th game, 5-5. Unfortunately, the comeback would hurt Bijlsma in the final two games as she ran out of steam down the stretch and Paez managed to hold on for a 6-3, 7-5 victory to move UIW into the tournament's second round.