Box Score

BEAUMONT – The Sam Houston State Bearkats sent a message to the rest of the Southland Conference on Saturday, snapping first-place Lamar's eight-match win streak, 5-2, at the Thompson Family Tennis Center.

The Kats (7-10, 4-3 SLC) have now won three of their last four matches after picking up their first win over the Cardinals (13-5, 5-2 SLC) in the regular season since 2007. Sam Houston opened up with a victory in the doubles point and then followed with points in the first three singles finishes to clinch the match and move just a win away from clinching its first berth in the Southland Conference Tournament since 2013.

"I am very proud of the women's performance today as once again they defeated a first-place conference opponent on the road," head coach Rob Hubbard said after the match. "They continue to amaze me with their resolve to fight for every point. This was a great win for them over a very strong conference foe."

Carrie Casey and Mila Milanovic made quick work of the Cardinals' top duo of Katya Lapayeva and Anna Spengler, reaching the finish line first with a 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles for their fourth straight win in doubles play.

Hanna Elfving and Jasmin Buchta squared doubles play up with a 6-3 win on the No. 3 court, but Fabienne Gettwart and Khee Yen Wee were able to put the doubles point in the Sam Houston column by taking down Talisa Merchiers and Stephanie Marchena, 6-4, on the No. 2 line.

With the doubles point in hand, the Kats went to work in singles play, making that momentum carry over. Milanovic needed just two sets to pick up her fourth win in her last five outings, taking down Merchiers (6-3, 6-3) on the No. 5 court to up the Bearkat lead to 2-0.

Caitlyn Mitchell then added a point at No. 6 play with her first singles win of the year, bettering Elfving by a 7-5, 6-1 margin. That put Sam Houston just a point away from clinching the win, which Gettwart provided on the No. 1 court.

Gettwart, who has now won three of her last four in singles play, was pushed in the final set but still managed to take down Lapayeva (6-4, 7-6 (10-8)), who entered the weekend with a 14-2 mark in singles play for the year.

With the match already decided, the Cardinals answered with wins by Spengler and Sanja Jolic on the Nos. 2 and 4 courts, but Wee was able to provide the final margin of victory when she outlasted Buchta in three sets (6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 12-10) at No. 3 play.

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}

"They did a fantastic job capturing the doubles point and carried it right into the singles play. While it was a great day for the entire team I am particularly pleased with the breakthrough play of Caitlyn and Fabienne," Hubbad said.

The Kats now return to Huntsville for their final two home matches of the season, coming on back-to-back days when they host Nicholls on Saturday and McNeese on Sunday. Both matches are set for 11 a.m. at the McAdams Tennis Center. 

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px}