LAFAYETTE, La. – The Lamar University women's tennis team is off to a strong start during the fall portion of its schedule. After bringing home two flight titles – and competing for two more – in the season opener, Big Red returned to Louisiana this weekend to compete in the UL Lafayette Fall Invitational. The four-team tournament featured Lamar, host UL Lafayette, McNeese and Southern Mississippi.
 
The invitational had LU facing off against the Ragin' Cajuns on day one and Battle of the Border rival McNeese on day two in a hidden dual – matches that do not count against the team's overall record for the spring season.
 
Senior Martina Alcaino led the way for Lamar posting a perfect singles record. Alcaino opened the tournament by defeating ULL's Cassandra Lecoinet in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Alcaino was joined in the winner's circle by freshman Jevrosima Mitic who bested the Ragin' Cajuns' Marilou Bressan, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
 
It was more of the same for Alcaino Saturday against the Cowgirls but the match would not end quickly. While Alcaino would defeat McNeese's Leana Gomez, the match was forced to a third set but not before the first ended in a tiebreak before being decided. In the end, Lamar's Alcaino prevailed, 7-6 (9-7), 2-6, 11-9.
 
The Cardinals will now get a short break before returning to action when they travel back across the border to compete in the Southland Masters Championships hosted by McNeese. The tournament is set to begin Wednesday, Oct. 21 and run through Sunday, Oct. 25^th.