Sophomore Barbara Martinez prepares to receive a serve during a doubles match against Stephen F. Austin University earlier today at the Orville I. Cox Tennis Center on the Edinburg campus. Martinez’s doubles partner was junior Lea Karren. UTRGV won all three doubles matches. AURORA ACEVEDO/THE RIDER PHOTOS
The UTRGV Women’s Tennis Team secured a 4-3 victory today against Stephen F. Austin State University at the Orville I. Cox Tennis Center, making its record 6-2 in conference and 11-8 overall.
The Vaqueras started off the game strong, sweeping the doubles matches to secure the first point.
Sophomore Barbara Martinez and junior Lea Karren beat Lumberjack freshmen Alkmini Giannakogiorgou and Jemma Cave 6-3 in their doubles match.
UTRGV junior Isabelle Bahr and sophomore Marjorie Souza won 6-1 against freshman Felicia Black and junior Zala Ule.
Sophomore Daniela Rosenberger and senior Stephanie Wilske bested SFA senior Elena Bleicher and freshman Ksenia Mamontova 6-2.
During the singles matches, Karren clutched the win against Giannakogiorgou 6-3, 2-6 and 6-1.
In the second match, Bahr beat Mamontova 6-3 and 6-3.
Souza beat Ule 6-3 and 6-2, earning UTRGV its fourth point.
Martinez fell to Cave 7-5 and 6-0 giving the Lumberjacks their first point.
SFA’s Back prevailed against Wilske, forcing a tiebreaker in the third set 6-2, 3-6 and 7-6.
Lumberjack freshman Saga Koch clinched a win against Rosenberger 3-6, 6-0 and 6-3.
UTRGV Women’s Tennis head coach West Nott said the game was amazing and that different people pitched in toward the win.
“To get to 6-2 in the conference, we only lost one match at home and we have a string of victories,” Nott said. “… There was a lot of pressure on us.”
He said it was a beautiful victory since the team has not beat SFA since he started coaching the program.
Nott said Karren has been gritty, especially for securing her singles match and not succumbing to the pressure.
“[Souza] is rock solid,” he said. “She takes care of business before it even gets interesting. I think she has the best [singles] record in the team in our conference, 7-1.”
Nott said the team’s upcoming match against Sam Houston State University would be an interesting one.
“It’s going to be just like this,” he said. “Very tough. Sam Houston beat them 6-1 in the opener in the WAC conference regular season. I think they will be potentially even a tougher team.”
Karren said she thought the game was controlled well in the doubles matches and the team took care of business.
“It was definitely tough,” she said. “I was feeling good on the third set. I knew I had to win it, so I was feeling good.”
Souza said the team did well in general, but it was more difficult than she had expected. She thought her match alongside Bahr went great and winning was great for their confidence.
“I think the team did good,” she said. “In doubles, we were amazing. In singles, it got a little tough.”
Souza wanted to finish her singles match fast by winning the first two sets, although she felt it was a “little tough.”
The Vaqueras are set to play a home game against Sam Houston State University at 9 a.m. Sunday, followed by the Western Athletic Conference Tournament April 27-29.
