Both UTRGV Men’s and Women’s Tennis Teams prepared for their upcoming season by participating at the Islander Open last Friday in Corpus Christi.
This past weekend, the tennis department put their efforts to the test, especially since there is a lot of young talent within the teams.
Women’s Head Coach West Nott believes the women’s team has done a great job so far. Nonetheless, he viewed the tournament as an opportunity to see how the team has come together as a whole.
“I think the first fall event is just all about, just seeing how we come together as a team, and just see if we can apply the things we have learned the first two weeks here in practice,” Nott said.
Returning sophomore Sandra Putz described the team’s chemistry this year.
“I mean, we’re much younger this season,” Putz said. “So, I think we’re all really excited to play and compete.”
She said there’s more energy from the team in comparison to previous years, and a lot has to do with Nott.
“He’s super nice,” Putz said. “Just new training methods and also he’s super motivated and excited.”
Katarina Sasaroga, also a returning sophomore, said the team is young this year.
“It’s sophomores, we have one junior and two new freshmen,” Sasaroga said. “So, just get to know everybody and show them how to compete.”
Nott has the women’s team excited and on board to go head-to-head against big teams such as Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Texas A&M International University, as they prepare for the Western Athletic Conference tournament against Grand Canyon University March 21.
“I think it’s a little unexpected as to how we’re gonna do, but I can guarantee you we’re gonna compete our butts off throughout the spring,” he said. “And we’ll see what happens.”
For the men’s team the goal is clear.
“The ultimate goal is always to win a conference championship,” Men’s Head Coach Dann Nelson said. “Always. You know, we play in the WAC, and in men’s tennis, that is a strong conference.”
Last year, Grand Canyon University won the WAC championship in a close match against the University of California, Los Angeles, and this year UTRGV faced the top team in the conference to begin the Islander Open.
“We have to improve, we have to do really well, we have to fight every day and get a little bit better if we’re trying to fight with a team like that,” Nelson said. “We can expect that we’re going to be a year older than we were last year. That just means that we should be a year smarter, a year more acclimated to college life and college tennis and Division 1 sports.”
Michael Loyd, a returning junior player, said he has experienced the different level of college tennis.
“I already got two years under my belt,” Loyd said. “It’s a different atmosphere, way faster, you know, it’s a team environment. So often this is an individual sport and with college you get to come together and work towards one goal.”
Other returning players this season include Samuel de Felipe Garcia, who led the squad with seven single victories a year ago, according to the UTRGV official athletic website, and junior Zane Kohrs.
“I feel like everyone is closer together as a team,” Kohrs said. “I feel like we are already all 10 best friends. I feel, like, everyone’s motivated, everyone’s on practice on time, people are even earlier than they need to be on practice, which is always a good sign. I feel like everything about our sense of urgency is just better this year.”
Returning transfers are Alberto Mello and Carlo Izurieta.
Junior Alberto Mello hits a forehand during practice last Wednesday at the Orville Cox Tennis Center on the Edinburg campus.
