Owls Open with Sweep
1/14/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 14, 2012
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Te 39th ranked Rice Owls took advantage of 60 degree weather to open Ron Smarr's final season with a pair of 7-0 shutout wins over Lamar and Prairie View A&M at Jack Hess Tennis Stadium on Saturday.
"We played pretty well for a first match," Smarr said. "What I liked the most was that we came out and did what we needed to do. We played tough from the start and didn't let up."
The Owls did not drop a set in any match on the day, and needed only one tie-break to decide a match. Michael Nuesslein and Christian Saravia needed the extra time to down Lamar's Denis Ermilov and Vukasin Voncevic in No. 2 doubles. Nuesslein make a healthy return to action, wining a pair of singles matches in straight sets and combining with Saravia for a pair of doubles wins.
The Owls will host 19th ranked Texas on Friday night at 6 pm at the MET Club in downtown Houston and return to campus on Sunday to host 44th ranked LSU.
"It was great that we got everybody a chance to play today, but we have a lot of work to do this week to be ready for Friday. The competition definitely takes a set up this week," Smarr added.