BEAUMONT, Texas – Fresh off a nine-match road swing where Lamar University posted a 6-3 (.667) overall recorded – a stretch that extended into the start of Southland Conference play – the conference co-leaders return to action Saturday when the host UT Rio Grande Valley. The match is set for a 10 a.m. start from the Thompson Family Tennis Center and will be a scheduled doubleheader with the LU women's team.
 
The Cardinals wrapped up their recent road trip with two conference matches. Lamar defeated New Orleans and Nicholls by a combined 11-3 score sweeping the doubles point in both matches. Big Red currently sits tied atop the SLC standings (with UIW) at 2-0.
 
The Vaqueros had a tough start to the non-conference portion of their season posting a 4-13 mark but opened league play with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Vaqueros' overall record doesn't quite tell the whole story as UTRGV has been involved in three one-point setbacks and one two-point loss, meaning their record is literally just a couple plays away from being very different.
 
The all-time series between the two schools has not been kind to the Red and White. The Cardinals trail UTRGV, 25-34, overall but have played .500 tennis in Beaumont (11-11). Big Red has the upper hand in the previous 10 meetings posting a 6-4 (.600) record during that stretch.
 
The Cardinals will be back on the court two days later when they square off against rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders are on the opposite end of the spectrum jumping out to a near perfect 12-2 (.857) start in non-conference play but dropped a 4-3 decision to UTRGV in their SLC opener.
 
Historically, the series between the two programs favors A&M-Corpus Christi but the Cardinals have won two of the past three meetings. Monday's contest is set for a 1 p.m. start from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.