UTRGV Tennis drops home openers

The UTRGV Tennis programs hosted Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Wednesday at the Orville I. Cox Tennis Courts on the Edinburg campus after a relocation from Corpus Christi to Edinburg due to weather issues. The women’s team fell 1-6 to the Islanders. UTRGV won 1-0 in doubles, but TAMUCC won all six singles matches for the victory. 

“I was extremely proud of the team for kicking off the first match of the season against a gritty Corpus team by winning the doubles point in dramatic fashion,” UTRGV Women’s Tennis head coach West Nott said. “It was a great team effort winning the doubles point against an elite team. Despite coming up short in singles, I thought we fought extremely well as a whole, and they played their hearts out.”

The men’s team fell 3-4 to the Islanders. The Vaqueros won a point off their doubles match but fell 2-4 in singles.

UTRGV Men’s Tennis head coach Nathan Robinson told The Rider that one can never be happy with a loss and hopes the team is irritated by it. “We’ve got to continue to grow as a team, mentally and physically, so there are no questions when we step on the court and in our minds,” Robinson said.

Sophomore Isabella Bahr prepares to hit the ball during her doubles match with Lea Karren.  

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The UTRGV Women’s Tennis team huddles to celebrate gaining a point after doubles matches. Shown smiling is senior Alicia Thal (left) and head coach West Nott. 

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Freshman Marjorie Souza prepares to forehand hit the ball during her singles match against TAMUCC’s Camille Townsend. Souza fought hard but lost 7-5, 7-5. 

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UTRGV junior Misha Kvantaliani delivers a backhand against TAMUCC’s Matthieu Peres.  

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UTRGV senior Katarina Sasaroga prepares a forehand against Islander Leopoldine Boisseau. Sasaroga won the first set 6-4, but Boisseau won the rest 6-2, 6-1 to clinch the win. 

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UTRGV senior Carlo Izurieta hits the ball against Islander Ryuya Ata. Izurieta defeated Ata in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 and a 7-4 tiebreaker.  

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UTRGV Junior Misha Kvantaliani serves the ball against TAMUCC’s Matthieu Peres in a singles match.  Kvantaliani defeated Peres in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. 

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Freshman duo Barbara Martinez (left) and Marjorie Souza embrace each other after winning their doubles match 6-3. 

Omar E. Zapata/The Rider Photo