RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Inch by inch, it’s a cinch. Yard by yard, too darn hard.
This is a phrase The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) women’s tennis head coach West Nott commonly says to his team to remind them to stay focused on the moment and the task at hand, and not get too high or too low.
It’s the mindset the Vaqueros will follow as they take on the 2024 spring season – one that will be anchored by a pair of four-year starters finalizing their legacy within the program and pave the way for some younger student-athletes to rise.
“We are feeling the excitement to start the season. The unknown is what makes this all such a crazy ride. The good thing is we are ready to embrace whatever comes our way and try our best to do some special things along the way,” Nott said.
The 2023 season had plenty of highs for UTRGV, including its best overall and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) winning percentages in five years as the Vaqueros went 12-9 and 7-2 in conference matches to finish tied for second after the regular season. They’ll look to build on that as this season goes on to be playing their best at the biggest moments, including during the WAC Tournament competing April 18-20 at the HEB Tennis Center at Pendleton Park in Harlingen.
Leading the team will be graduate student Isabelle Bahr and senior Lea Karren, who have been dependable on and off the court since Nott brought them in to change the program.
“I was telling our team, if our seniors can have their best years and the rest of the team can overachieve, we will get more than our fair share,” Nott said. “Lea is our energy bus. She wears her heart on her sleeve and gets the team and crowd fired up. Lea leads with her intensity and competitive fire. Izzy is just as strong in her own right with her grit, work ethic and confidence. Those two are the first two players I recruited and they have been the catalyst for all our success in recent years.”
Contributing to the veteran presence is powerhouse junior Marjorie Souza. She’s a two-time All-WAC Singles Second Team honoree and has led the team in wins in both of her seasons. Her game and her voice have grown consistently during her career, and she’ll be a key piece of the puzzle once again in 2024.
“Marjorie has been a stud since the day she arrived, taking names and setting a high bar in dual matches. She knows how to navigate some tricky situations to get the job done and she is a big part of what we do,” Nott said.
Soaking up the experience and knowledge that trio has to offer is a new trio of young and exciting netters that Nott is eager to see step up this season. Junior Kristal Dule is a transfer whose success at her previous stop, athleticism and confidence will positively impact the lineup. Sophomore Yaiza Vazquez had good spurts throughout last season with her firepower and ended her year with a strong showing at the conference tournament, putting her in a great spot as she heads into Year Two. Nott praised the work tough sophomore Valentina Urraco put in throughout the summer to get herself in the lineup and put herself in position to have an excellent year.
“We are really excited to see what our new and younger players do. They have been excellent in practice and they are ready to make their mark,” Nott said.
The Vaqueros, of course, are chasing similar goals to every other team, like having a successful record and a chance to win a title at the end of the year. But their approach to those goals, an approach focused on keeping the pressure and the expectations low and just taking things step by step, might look a little different.
These Vaqueros are a tight bunch who enjoy playing with, and playing for, each other and UTRGV. They’re grateful and ready to take on another year and another set of challenges and hope to keep moving the program forward as they enjoy the ride together.
“There are always some feelings of nerves and butterflies, but once we hit that first shot, things will settle down and we’ll get into competition mode. Then our experience and training will take over and we’ll let the chips fall where they may,” Nott said.
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