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Sophomore duo Lea Karren (left) and Isabella Bahr reach out for the ball in their doubles match against TAMUCC’s Mariya Shumeika and Camille Townsend. Down 3-5 in the match, the Vaqueras fought back to force a tiebreaker at 6-6. They won the tiebreaker 7-3, claiming the point in doubles for UTRGV. Omar E. Zapata /The Rider Photo
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.
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Sophomore Isabella Bahr prepares to hit the ball during her doubles match with Lea Karren.
Omar E. Zapata/The Rider Photos
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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.
Omar E. Zapata/The Rider Photos
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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.
Omar E. Zapata/The Rider Photos
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UTRGV junior Misha Kvantaliani delivers a backhand against TAMUCC’s Matthieu Peres.
Omar E. Zapata/The Rider Photos
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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.
Omar E. Zapata/The Rider Photos
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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.
Omar E. Zapata/The Rider Photos
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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.
Omar E. Zapata /The Rider Photos
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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