EAUMONT, Texas (February 1, 2026) — Lubbock Christian University closed its exhibition slate Sunday at the Thompson Family Tennis Center with a split doubleheader against NCAA Division I Lamar, earning a landmark 4–3 victory in the opener before dropping a tightly contested 4–3 decision in the nightcap.
The morning match marked a milestone for the Chaparrals, as LCU secured its first-ever dual-match win over a Division I opponent in program history, regardless of exhibition or regular-season designation. The afternoon contest again came down to the final court, underscoring the competitiveness of the young 2025–26 squad against a D-I lineup.
Match 1: LCU 4, Lamar 3
Lubbock Christian seized an early advantage by splitting doubles play, then rode dominant performances at the top and bottom of the singles lineup to clinch the historic win.
After Lamar captured the doubles point with victories on courts one and three, LCU quickly flipped momentum in singles. Freshman
Andrea Rossi Principe put the Chaparrals on the board first, rolling to a 6–2, 6–2 win at No. 6 singles to even the match at 1–1. Moments later, senior
Mattia Ghedin doubled the LCU total with a commanding 6–1, 6–3 victory at No. 3, giving the visitors their first lead of the dual.
That advantage grew when senior
Kelly Giese powered past Leon Nickel 6–3, 6–0 at No. 1 singles, pushing LCU within a point of the clinch. Junior
Pablo Segura delivered the decisive blow at No. 4, closing out a 6–3, 7–5 win to secure the match before Lamar rallied on the back courts. Lamar picked up three-set wins at Nos. 2 and 5 after the decision was sealed, finalizing the 4–3 score.
Match 2: Lamar 4, LCU 3
The afternoon rematch followed a similar script but swung the opposite direction late, as Lamar claimed four of the final five points after dropping the doubles point.
LCU struck first in doubles behind Giese and Ghedin, who cruised to a 6–1 victory at No. 1, but Lamar responded with wins on courts two and three to grab the early edge. In singles, Lamar extended its lead quickly with straight-set victories at Nos. 5 and 4, building a 3–1 cushion.
Segura kept the Chaparrals within reach with a clutch win at No. 3, prevailing 6–2, 7–6(8) in a tightly contested second-set tiebreaker. Ghedin followed with a gritty three-set victory at No. 2, rallying for a 5–7, 6–3, 6–1 decision to level the dual at 3–3.
The match ultimately came down to the top court, where Maxwell Lindstedt edged Giese in a three-set battle, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, to clinch the dual for Lamar.
Key Performers
Across the two matches, Ghedin and Segura emerged as anchors for the Chaparrals, each posting a pair of singles victories. Giese added a singles win and played a pivotal role in doubles, while Rossi Principe impressed with a straight-set win in his first collegiate dual against Division I competition. Sophomore
Alexandre Sulpicy also contributed a three-set win at No. 6 in the second match.
What's Next
Lubbock Christian now turns its attention to the regular season, opening official dual play Friday at Abilene Christian's Teague Center in Abilene, Texas, against Trinity (Texas).
