WACO – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) women's tennis team wanted to be challenged with matches against marquee opponents in the 2023 spring season. 
 
Head coach West Nott felt they earned that right after a strong run in 2022, so he delivered. The Vaqueros will open their 2023 campaign with two matches at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, facing the (RV) Baylor Bears on Saturday at 6 p.m. and the Houston Cougars at 12 p.m. on Sunday. 
 
"We're feeling really good. We came back stronger than ever. In my four years, this was our best start to a semester and I think it's a culmination of all the hard work they've been putting in. We've got a lot of good players on this team," Nott said. 
 
Baylor's women's tennis team is receiving votes in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) preseason top 25 coaches poll. The Vaqueros are 0-7 all-time against the Bears, with Baylor winning the last matchup 5-2 four years ago. 
 
Houston holds a 12-0 record against UTRGV. The Vaqueros are heading into this latest meeting with revenge on their minds after a lackluster performance when the Cougars came down to the Orville Cox Tennis Center and captured a pair of wins (6-1, 6-0) in 2021. Juniors Isabelle Bahr and Lea Karren and senior Kristyna Mamicova are the remaining members from that team, and they'll play key roles as the Vaqueros strive to surprise Houston this time around. 
 
"We're starting with two super tough matches," Nott said. "Baylor has been a consistent top-15, top-10 program over the last 25 years. It'll be fun to get after it against them. Houston is a team I think we can scare a little bit and see what happens. They came down here and gave us a beat down a couple of years ago, but our team is much better now. I'm hoping we can catch them off guard and make it a long day in the office." 
 
As the Vaqueros prepare to get the new season kicked off, Nott is facing the great problem of figuring out how to draw his lineup with a super deep, even roster. Returning student-athletes, including Bahr and Karren, have made great strides and look poised to lead the team. Nott also praised freshmen Yaiza Vazquez and Valentina Urraco for coming back really sharp and said their progress has been impressive and awesome to see. Sophomore newcomer Daniela Rosenberger is also someone Nott called an impact player. 
 
However it shakes out, UTRGV will put a competitive lineup on the courts against two tough teams during its opening weekend, and the Vaqueros will use their trademark energy to try to come out on top. 
 
"We're going to have to be really gritty and tough. We want to bring the energy. We hope to come out with a lot of peppiness and be super vocal and loud and go from there," Nott said. 

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