NEW ORLEANS, La. – Lamar University jumped out to an early lead and never looked back posting a 5-2 victory at New Orleans Saturday afternoon. The win moved Big Red back to .500 on the season (10-10) and 1-0 to start Southland Conference play.
 
LU wasted little time grabbing the opening lead of the match. Lamar's No. 1 duo of Maxwell Lindstedt and Leon Nickel worked quickly to defeat UNO's Jacob Rouleau-Mailly and Gonzalo Cotter, 6-1. Teammates Fabian Anthin and Axel Bergh then secured the point with a 6-4 victory at the No. 2 spot (bouncing UNO's Beltran Fernandez and Carlos Melgosa).
 
The Red and White then looked to singles to secure the match. Just like in doubles, it was the top of the ladder that came through first. After the Privateers tied the match with the first singles decision off the court, Lamar came right back with Lindstedt (No. 2) and freshman Rintaro Shukuda (No. 3) to push their advantage to two, 3-1.
 
With Lamar needing just one more win for the overall victory, UNO tried to battle back. Courts 4-6 were all headed to a third set but there would little suspense was the courts went to the final frame. Freshman Vicente Monge squared off against New Orleans' Jerall Yasin on court 5. Monge was dominant in the first set recording a 6-1 decision, but Yasin found his stroke in the second with a 7-5 victory. When the two athletes stepped on the court for the third and final set Monge flexed once more posting a 6-2 decision for the singles win and the overall team victory.
 
Sophomore Louis Drapeau would close out the scoring by picking up a win at the No. 5 spot for LU.
 
The Cardinals will be in Thibodaux, La., Sunday when they take on Nicholls. Monday's match is set for a 1 p.m. start.