CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Prairie View A&M women's tennis team opened its 2016 team schedule Monday, absorbing a setback to host Texas A&M–Corpus Christi.
 
The Islanders won the team match by a score of 7-0, sweeping the doubles point before winning the singles matches.
 
The Lady Panthers (0-1) got strong play from Sydney Thomas, Stacy Lackey, and newcomer Neharika Rama, as each player on at least five games during their singles matches.
 
Thomas fought hard in a 6-4, 6-1 decision to Jelena Dzinic in flight one. In flight three, Rama dropped the first set Celia Rodriguez by a score of 6-1, but rallied and forced a tiebreaker game before falling 7-5.
 
In flight four, Lackey forced a tiebreaker game in the first set to Maider Martin 7-5. Martin took the second by a score of 6-2.
 
The doubles point was highlighted by the play of Lackey and teammate Shaddae Findley in flight two. The PVAMU pair gave Rodriguez and Alexandra Belle of Corpus Christi a very tiring match before the Islanders duo prevailed 6-4.
 
The match was the first women's team match for the Lady Panthers under first-year head coach Duane Williams. Williams had previously served as an assistant for the men's and women's tennis teams at Prairie View A&M.
 
Monday's competition also marked the first appearances in team play for freshmen Rika and Timara Maxwell. The pair represented the Lady Panthers in doubles flight one, falling 6-2 to Dzinic and Judit Vives. Maxwell also competed in singles flight six.
 
The Lady Panthers return to action this weekend when they head to Nacogdoches for a pair of matches. The team plays host Stephen F. Austin on Friday, and will then take on UTSA on Saturday. They Lady Panthers will play their home opener the next day, Sunday, Jan. 24, against Louisiana.
 
Tennis Match Results
Prairie View A&M vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
1/18/2016 at Corpus Christi, Texas
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 7, Prairie View A&M 0
Singles competition:
1. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) def. Sydney Thomas (PVAMU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Judit Vives (AMCC) def. Trinity Randolph (PVAMU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Neharika Rama (PVAMU) 6-1, 7-5
4. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Stacy Lackey (PVAMU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Alexandra Belle (AMCC) def. Shaddae Findley (PVAMU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Marina Vicens Miquel (AMCC) def. Timara Maxwell (PVAMU) 6-2, 6-1
 
Doubles competition:
1. Judit Vives/Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) def. Neharika Rama/Timara Maxwell (PVAMU) 6-2
2. Celia Rodriguez/Alexandra Belle (AMCC) def. Stacy Lackey/Shaddae Findley (PVAMU) 6-4
3. Maider Martin/Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Sydney Thomas/Tatiana Ruhl (PVAMU) 6-2
 
Match Notes:
Prairie View A&M 0-1
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1-0
Order of finish: Singles (6,2,5,1,4,3)
T-2:35  A-117