RESULTS

HOUSTON - The Prairie View A&M men's tennis team opened the 2012 campaign with a 7-0 defeat to Rice at the Jake Hess Tennis Courts Saturday in non-conference play.

Veteran Prairie View A&M head coach John Cochran was disappointed with the sweep of his young team, but Prairie View has the chance to learn from its matches against the No. 39 ranked team in the nation.

“This next match with Louisiana-Lafayette on Jan. 22, we just have to play Prairie View tennis,” Cochran said. “They know that they have to come out and work on it from the beginning - from the start of the match.”

In doubles play, Cochran said the duo of Ronald Chidzikwe and Trenton Johnson put up the biggest fight, losing 8-2 to Christian Saravia and Michael Nuesslein of Rice. Cochran added the score didn't indicate how close Prairie View A&M's No. 2 doubles team played in the match.

“We've just got to play better tennis,” Cochran said. “That's the key. If we just come out and don't get mesmerized by the team and who they are, I think we'll be OK.”

The Panthers (0-1, 0-0 SWAC) play host to Louisiana-Lafayette at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22 at the Prairie View A&M tennis courts.