The men’s tennis team at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is preparing for the final weekend of the regular season, which includes two crucial Western Athletic Conference (WAC) matches.
The Vaqueros (8-14, 0-2 WAC) are scheduled to compete against the UT Arlington Mavericks (8-7, 2-0 WAC) at 2 p.m. on Friday at the UTA Tennis Center. This will be followed by a match against Abilene Christian (9-11, 1-2 WAC) at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Eager Tennis Pavilion.
These matches hold significant importance in determining the seeding for the upcoming WAC Tennis Tournament, which will be hosted by UTRGV at the HEB Tennis Center at Pendleton Park in Harlingen. All five men’s teams will advance to the tournament, with the top three seeds automatically receiving byes to the semifinal round, and the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds competing in a quarterfinal match.
Currently, the Vaqueros occupy the fifth position in the conference standings, just one match behind ACU and Seattle U. Securing victories in the upcoming matches could potentially propel them into the semifinals.
Historically, UTRGV has faced UT Arlington, holding a 7-24 all-time record in a series dating back to 1983. In 2023, UTA emerged victorious in both encounters, during the regular season and the conference tournament.
Against Abilene Christian, the Vaqueros hold a 5-10 all-time record, with their last encounter in 2020 resulting in a close 5-2 victory for the Wildcats.
Key players for the Vaqueros include senior captain Emilien Burnel, who has an unblemished WAC match record in the No. 1 singles and doubles spot, alongside freshman Ivo Isqueiro. Freshman Will Roberts has also been in fine form, winning six of his last eight matches in the second half of the season and currently holding a 2-0 mark in singles at No. 6.
Currently, UT Arlington leads the WAC men’s tennis standings, followed by Grand Canyon in second place, and Abilene Christian and Seattle U in the third and fourth spots, with UTRGV trailing at the back. The final seeding will be determined by the end of the weekend’s matches.
As the season comes to a close, the UTRGV men’s tennis team is striving to finish strong and secure a favourable position for the upcoming WAC Tennis Tournament. Supporters are encouraged to follow the team on social media and attend their matches to show their support.