Tennis ready to serve another season

Emilien Burnel, the UTRGV Men’s Tennis Team captain, defeated Joao Sasso of the University of the Incarnate Word in the Singles Flight A Final of the Jake Memorial Islander Open in Corpus Christi.  

Burnel, a senior, took the match 6-3, 6-3 over Sasso, also a senior, in the Sept. 10 contest.

On the last day of the Jake Frederick Memorial Islander Open, sophomore Agustin Salazar and freshman Ivo Isqueiro won their Doubles Flight B Final 6-4 against freshman Ethan Scribner and sophomore Benjamin McDonald of Abilene Christian University.

Burnel said the Vaqueros have been keeping in condition as well as lifting weights. 

“Every time we have a little something that’s bothering us, we just go to the training room, and the assistant trainer, they help us to get better,” he said. “ … We make sure we stay focused and [are] prepared for the tournaments. And we have regionals that’s coming, so the focus needs to be even higher.”

Head coach Nathan Robinson said if the players are in a good place physically, then that also translates into the team’s mentality.

Robinson said the fall is more individual because it is a traditional tournament and the players are separated, while in the spring the team plays schools and the number of matches ramps up.

“The season that we are aiming for starts in January, where we’ll go and play other schools,” he said. “Our guys will play 50 to 60 matches in those four to five months. That’s the heavy season where they get pushed. That’s, kind of, what all the training in the fall is for, is to be ready to perform in January.”

Burnel said regionals will be interesting since a lot of big schools will be competing.

“In spring, we have a pretty tough schedule,” he said. “We’re playing Baylor [University], Texas Tech [University], [Texas] A&M [University], [Southern Methodist University] … Oklahoma State [University], which is probably the top school we’re going to play this year. … All the matchups we’re going to have are going to be interesting.”

Burnel also said his goals for the team are to get to the Western Athletic Conference Tournament and have a better record than last year.

Last year, the team posted a record of 7-19 overall and 1-4 in conference.

Salazar, who did not compete last year due to an injury, said he is excited to play in regionals.

“For the spring, I’m excited to play top schools and normal schools,” he said. “Every match I’m excited for, basically.”

Salazar also wants the team to have a better record than last year.

“If I can end up with a winning record, that’s amazing, right?” he said. “But if not, I want to have at least a better record than I did last year.”

The team also invites the public to come watch the games at the Orville I. Cox Tennis Center on the Edinburg campus.

“It would be nice if they could come out and watch,” Salazar said. “It’s free; just cheer and make noise.” 

Burnel said it is always good to have support from attendees, “especially when you are in a tough situation and sometimes people cheering you up can make a difference.” 

He said he is trying to be a good leader for the team.

“I hope that all the guys on the team know that if they have a problem, they can always come talk to me,” he said. “If it’s about tennis or about anything else, I’m always there for them, and I know they’re always there for me.”

Next up for the Vaqueros is the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regionals, scheduled Thursday through Tuesday at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, followed by the Islander Open II, hosted by Cooper Outdoor Advertising Oct. 27-29 at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center in Corpus Christi. 

For more information on UTRGV Athletics, visit goutrgv.com.