RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's tennis team created a big wave of momentum after picking up a pair of wins last weekend. 
 
The Vaqueros (2-3) are aiming to ride that wave to another 2-0 weekend as they face the Prairie View A&M (PVAMU) Panthers in the home opener Friday at 9 a.m. at the Orville Cox Tennis Center before heading up the coast for a rivalry match against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) Islanders at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. 
 
"It was a great weekend for us. The girls did amazing. The energy, the support, the chemistry was great. We did a phenomenal job against Texas State to get the first win against them since 2008, so it was huge," assistant coach Kate Vorobeva said. "We've been working a lot on doubles because the doubles point is so crucial to start the match. This weekend, we're expecting to see everyone fighting for every single point and we're striving to get a W in every position." 
 
UTRGV is 17-2 all-time against PVAMU (2-12) and earned a gritty 4-3 win on the Panthers' courts last season in tough weather conditions. The Vaqueros feel confident they can capture their second-straight win over PVAMU with a high-energy, supportive environment fueling them. 
 
"Having two wins in a row is great, it's amazing for our confidence. It shows all the hard work we have been putting in, so now we are ready to go for the next match. I'm expecting the best energy," senior Stefanie Wilske said. 
 
Saturday's South Texas Showdown match against the Islanders, presented by Rally Community Credit Union, will be a big test for UTRGV. The Vaqueros are 3-36 all-time against TAMUCC and have dropped the last nine meetings, picking up their last victory in the rivalry on Feb. 27, 2018. 
 
But the team is finding its stride, both in singles and doubles. UTRGV won all six doubles matches last weekend with junior Isabelle Bahr/sophomore Marjorie Souza playing at No. 1, junior Lea Karren/sophomore Barbara Martinez at No. 2, and sophomore Daniela Rosenberger/freshman Yaiza Vazquez at No. 3. The Vaqueros have a number of combinations that have performed well on the doubles courts. 
 
Bahr and Souza each won both of their singles matches over the weekend and lead the Vaqueros with three singles wins apiece. Bahr and Karren have gotten looks in the No. 1 singles flight, with Karren capturing an impressive 6-2, 6-2 win over Texas State's Kiana Graham at No. 1. UTRGV head coach West Nott has tested the depth of the roster by mixing around the lineups in the young season and knows he has plenty of options to give the Vaqueros their best shot at ending the losing streak against TAMUCC. 
 
"We are expecting an extremely tough match with no easy points. They are an experienced team who knows how to win and we will need to be at our best to come out on top," Nott said. "I expect our team to rise to the occasion and make it a gritty match with a lot of long points. We are playing smart and confident doubles right now and we can apply some pressure right off the bat with a strong start. I feel good about our chances the longer the match goes. We just need to hang around and things will start to roll our way."
 
Both matches will be part of doubleheaders with UTRGV's men's tennis team. The Vaqueros invite all students, fans and the community to show their support Friday at the Orville Cox Tennis Center to help push the teams to victory. 
 
"Everybody is more than welcome. It's going to be a great experience watching the women's tennis team and men's tennis team. It'll be amazing, so come here and support," Wilske said. 

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