Vaqueros clinch victory against Cardinals

The UTRGV Men’s Tennis Team bested Lamar University 4-3 this afternoon at the Orville I. Cox Tennis Center in its first win of the season, bringing the Vaqueros’ record to 1-2 overall.

The first doubles match with Vaquero senior Emilien Burnel and junior Sam Whitehead against Lamar’s senior Brandon Do and freshman Leon Nickel was a hard-fought battle. The teams tied 3-3 and eventually the Cardinals took a 4-3 edge over the Vaqueros, which turned into a 6-4 win.

Freshmen Paolo Bonaguro and Ivo Isqueiro also lost their doubles match 6-3 against juniors Max Amling and Haruki Omiri-Cowie, securing a point for the Cardinals.

UTRGV sophomore Agustin Salazar and freshman Will Roberts fell 6-0 to junior Martin Garcia-Ripoll and sophomore Gustav Hasslegren, ending the doubles match with a point for the Cardinals.

In the Court 1 singles match, Burnel kept Amling on his toes as neither one managed a solid lead. Amling ultimately took a 6-4 win in the first set. Things took a turn during the second set, with Burnel taking a 4-1 lead over the Cardinal. The Vaquero solidified his lead, 5-1, and dominated the second set, 6-1. The third set became the last of the match as the other matches had ended, culminating in a 3-3 tie that Burnel proceeded to break with a 7-5 win in overtime. The match ended in a 4-3 Vaquero victory.

Burnel said it was a difficult match, but the Vaqueros prevailed by staying focused.

“It was really hard, especially because we lost the doubles point,” he said. “We need, like, a lot more energy to get into the singles. We were down in four courts in singles and everyone kept fighting. … I’m really proud of everyone here because everyone fought hard.”

Similarly, the second singles match had the Cardinals’ Nickel taking a slight 6-4 edge over Salazar in the first set. However, Salazar took a hefty lead during the second set at 4-1, ending it with a 6-2 win. During the third set he put up another 6-2 win, giving UTRGV one point.

Burnel said he wasn’t feeling the pressure until he was the last person playing.

“I saw everyone was watching, everyone was cheering,” he said. “It’s still tough to be the last match on and to be the decider. If you win the match, the team wins but if you lose, it’s kind of on you, too.”

In the third singles match, UTRGV’s Whitehead maintained a healthy lead over Garcia-Ripoll until they eventually tied 6-6. Whitehead took the first set with a 7-6 overtime win. His engine was warmed up as he took control of the second set, 5-1. The Vaquero brought in UTRGV’s first point with a 6-1 second set win.

Match number four had Cardinal Do take the first set with a 6-3 win and UTRGV freshman Santiago Serrano also took a 6-3 win during the second set. Serrano brought in another 6-3 win, securing UTRGV’s second point.

Sophomore Joan Crespo took the first set in the fifth match, 6-1, against Bonaguro. He secured a point for Lamar with a 6-3 win in the second set.

In the sixth match, Vaquero Isqueiro put up a 6-2 first set win over Omori-Cowie. The Cardinal reciprocated with a 6-1 win, tying the match. Omori-Cowie took a 3-0 lead in the third set, setting the pace for Isqueiro. The Cardinal took the final set with a 6-2 score.

Head coach Nathan Robinson said Lamar University is a tough competitor.

“We’re really happy at how the guys competed and found a way through,” he said. “We had a pretty slow start. … They found a way through it.”

Robinson said they hope to carry the momentum for their next game.

“It should boost us as we head up to San Antonio today and play [University of the] Incarnate Word tomorrow.” The game starts at 11 a.m.