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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's tennis team is set to kick off its regular season with a pair of home matches starting on Friday against Lamar University at 1 p.m. at the Orville Cox Tennis Center. 
 
UTRGV will also face Tarleton State on Sunday at 1 p.m. Live scoring will become available once the match begins. 

Seating for fans at UTRGVhome matches is expected to be limited to approximately 10% capacity. Limiting the capacity allows for proper social distancing among fans, staff, and student-athletes. 
 
Face masks are required to be worn properly by all fans, media and staff present inside the Orville Cox Tennis Center. The CDC defines wearing a mask correctly as covering the nose and mouth and securing it around the chin, trying to fit in snugly against the side of the face. The CDC does not recommend using masks with an exhalation valve or vent. Neck gaiters, bandanas and similar items are not acceptable alternatives to face masks. Children ages 2 and under are not required to wear masks.
 
Restrooms at the Orville Cox Tennis Center will be closed to the public to limit access into the Tier 1 section.
 
Long Time Waiting
The Vaqueros have waited a long time to get back to competing. While they have been able to practice and train, it doesn't compare to facing someone other than your teammates. 
 
It has been 323 days since the Vaqueros face TCU in Fort Worth so it makes sense that the Vaqueros are excited to get back into the swing of competition. 
 
"I have been waiting for this moment for so long," UTRGV head coach West Nott said. "I am super pumped and I think the entire team is fired up. We are just grateful to participate during this time and I know it's a hard time for everyone so, we are really lucky to be out there and we are going to try and make the most of it this season."
 
New Faces
The Vaqueros are welcoming in six new faces in 2021 in Asia Allen, Natalie Arce, Isabelle Bahr,Valeria Gracia, Lea Karren, and Anna Mora.
 
The roster will also include returners Kristyna Mamicova, Valeria Montero, Ana Platisa, Sandra Putz, Katarina Sasaroga, Alicia Thal, and Nethmi Wadugefor a total of 13 members on the team. 
 
That is almost twice as many from a year ago and that certainly means a different team dynamic in 2021. 
 
"I think adding more numbers and new people has changed the dynamics of the team just because they brought more energy and more competitiveness to each practice," Nott said. "I think it's great to have more friends to be around who share what you love to do each day. I honestly can say it is something I wish I would have done earlier in my career. The energy has been so good and so contagious."
 
Taking Advantage
Like most teams around the country, UTRGV has been limited to what it can do going back to March of 2020. Slowly since the fall semester, the Vaqueros have started to take advantage of the situation caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. 
 
With not being able to spend a lot of time on the court, coach Nott got creative and use his time in a different way. 
 
"I have done a lot of Zoom calls with them and a lot of video tape," Nott said. "I brought in some guest speakers so it's fun to get on the court and integrate some of those things we had been talking about. It's really amazing to see the growth in the players because a lot of them took personal responsibility to improve their own tennis and grow more mature off the court. It certainly has shown. I am proud and happy of the work they have done."
 
Playing Future WAC Members
Earlier this month the WAC announced that it would be adding five new programs to the conference with four joining in the fall of 2021. 
 
Four of the new institutions are from Texas as Abilene Christian, Lamar, Stephen F. Austin, and Sam Houston will be the ones joining in the fall. 
 
UTRGV will face Lamar, Stephen F. Austin, and Sam Houston this season and also be playing new member Tarleton State in a non-conference matchup. Playing these schools this season definitely will help make them better this season and going forward.
 
"A lot of the non-conference teams this year are teams joining the conference next year," Nott said. "We are looking forward to playing Sam Houston again and Lamar this weekend in our opening match. We are really excited to play anyone in the state of Texas. There is really good Division I competition in Texas so we try and get anyone we can on the schedule and try to compete against them. I think it is healthy to have as many competitions as possible."
 
It's Not All About Winning
Everyone wants to win and every team in the WAC wants to win a WAC Championship. That is one of the Vaqueros' goals this season but there is more to it than just winning. 
 
The Vaqueros want to continue to grow and get better to build a program of constant success. 
 
"Of course, everyone would like to win the WAC," Nott said. "It's an unstated goal. We'd love to do something like that but I think it's more about maximizing each practice. All these things are coming together here. I have this sense of optimism about the future. We don't really talk about trying to win the WAC. We just try to do the best job each day in practice and make good decision after good decision. Over a long period of time doing that, then it just naturally happens."
 
Facing Lamar

• The Cardinals are 1-0 on the season after defeating Prairie View A&M 7-0 on Jan. 23.
• The match with the Vaqueros will kick off a stretch of four matches in seven days. 
• UTRGV is 9-20 all-time against Lamar in a series that dates back to 1989.
• Lamar won the last match up picking up the 5-2 victory in Beaumont. 
• The Vaqueros last defeated Lamar 4-3 at home back on Feb. 10, 2019.

 
Facing Tarleton State

• The Texans are 0-3 on the season after falling to TCU and Sam Houston, twice.
• The Texans will face Lamar on Saturday at 11 a.m. before facing the Vaqueros on Sunday. 
• Last time out, the Texans lost 4-3 to Sam Houston.
• This will be the first matchup between UTRGV and Tarelton State.
• The match between UTRGV and Tarleton State is a non-conference matchup.

 
Upcoming Schedule

• Feb. 6 vs. Stephen F. Austin  – 11 a.m. 
• Feb. 7 @ Texas State – 10 a.m.
• Feb. 9 vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 3 p.m.
• Feb. 13 @ St. Mary's – 3 p.m.
• Feb. 19 @ Sam Houston – 1 p.m.

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