NATCHITOCHES, La. – Lamar University came out firing on all cylinders in a match that was delayed several days due to the freezing temperatures that rolled into Natchitoches, La. last week, but the delay didn't seem to hurt the Cardinals. Lamar defeated Jackson State, 6-1, in Natchitoches Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Cardinals opened the day with impressive performances and Nos. 3 and 1 doubles respectively to take the opening point of the day. The team of Arina Gudovskaya and Luana Paiva (court 1) and Lera Zaginayko and Martina Alcaino (court 3) picked up the victories for the point.
 
Big Red even held the lead at No. 2 doubles before the match was halted due to the point being awarded.
 
The Tigers put a solid fight in singles with three matches being forced to a third set, but while the Cardinals were locked in tight battles on those courts the rest of the team was locking up wins. Alcaino handed the Red and White and 2-0 lead when she dispensed of Polina Georgieva, 6-1, 6-0, on court 6.
 
Paiva followed suit moments later with a 6-3, 7-5 decision over JSU's Mariia Iordonova at the No. 3 position. Jackson State would eventually pick up a victory on court four but not before Lamar put the overall match away with a three-set victory from Gudovskaya at No. 1 followed by a straight-sets decision from junior Savannah Bijlsma at No. 5 (def. Tiara Alvarez, 6-4, 6-3).
 
The Cardinals now return to action Sunday when they return home to host Lubbock Christian in a combined doubleheader with the LU men. The match has been moved from the original time and will now start at 11 a.m. followed by the second at 4 p.m. Both matches will take place from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.