RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's tennis team will host the Tarleton State Texans and the Abilene Christian Wildcats this weekend at the Orville Cox Tennis Center to open the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) season. 
 
The Vaqueros (8-6) and Texans (9-2) will face off in the conference opener at 10 a.m. Friday in UTRGV's Senior Day match. The first 100 fans in attendance will receive free "Support Women's Sports" t-shirts. Admission is free and the public is encouraged to attend. 
 
UTRGV is 0-5 all-time against Tarleton State. The Texans won last year's conference match, 6-1, in Stephenville. The reigning WAC Doubles Players of the Week, graduate student Isabelle Bahr and junior Marjorie Souza, earned a doubles win in that match. 
 
The Vaqueros will play the Wildcats (3-9) on Sunday at 10 a.m. UTRGV is 4-9 all-time against ACU and has won the last two battles between the programs. When these teams faced off last season in Abilene, UTRGV fought for a 4-3 win, taking the doubles point as Bahr/Souza picked up a tough win at No. 1 doubles and winning the top three singles matches, courtesy of senior Lea Karren, Bahr and Souza. Abilene Christian will open its conference campaign at UT Arlington on Friday. 
 
Prior to Friday's match, the Vaqueros will recognize Bahr and Karren during a Senior Day ceremony. The duo have helped shape the UTRGV women's tennis program as the first student-athletes head coach West Nott signed when he took over the program. 
 
Bahr is a former WAC Freshman of the Year honoree, and Karren earned All-WAC Second Team honors last season. They have elevated the program on and off the court during their four years on campus and have been instrumental to UTRGV's success. 
 
Last season, the Vaqueros finished the regular season tied for second in the WAC and went to the tournament as the No. 3 seed. They hope to start their conference campaign strong in the comfort of their home courts. 

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