RIO GRANDE VALLEY – A busy, competitive 2025 fall season has come to an end for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's tennis program, which continues to build on a strong 2024-25 campaign.
 
The experienced Vaqueros squad, which saw eight returners from the previous season, completed a tough fall schedule that saw them compete at power schools like Southern Methodist and battle in tournaments with postseason implications including the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Texas Regional and the Southland Conference (SLC) Fall Championships.
 
"We had a very busy fall, the busiest fall we've had as far as matches played," head men's tennis coach Nathan Robinson said. "It was a great opportunity for our guys not just to get good matches in, but to also get in a lot of reps both in competition and in practice."
 
Among those returning for the Vaqueros, graduate student, team captain, and reigning SLC player of the Year Sam Whitehead battled through injuries this season but shined at the ITA Texas Regional, advancing to the consolation semifinals.
 
Junior Santiago Serrano enjoyed a "breakout" fall season, defeating TCU's Filip Apltauer to advance to the Round of 32 at the ITA Texas Regional and reaching the semifinals of the SLC Fall Championships.
 
"We've been waiting for Santi's breakout to kind of happen, and I think we're starting to see it," Robinson said. "He won a round at the SLC Championships, but himself and everyone around him kind of felt like he left a lot on the table. That's where we see his level now and our expectations of him as a top end guy on our program."
 
Senior Ivo Isqueiro made it out of the qualifying round to advance to the main draw of the ITA Texas Regional, making him the third Vaquero to compete in the main draw this fall, the most since Robinson joined UTRGV.
 
"For guys like Sam, Santi, and Ivo, they played against extremely high competition throughout the fall," Robinson said. "There really weren't any off matches for them, so getting to see those guys compete against some of the best players in the country was great."
 
Sophomores Loic Young Kriegel and Tsz Him Chan shined for the Vaqueros as well in this fall season. Young, fresh off a successful freshman campaign, went 5-5 during the fall earning two big singles wins the Vaqueros final tournament of the year at SMU.
 
Meanwhile, Chan, a USF transfer, made his presence known on this squad, ending with a 4-5 singles record while also upholding his reputation in doubles, as he and Serrano advanced to the Round of 32 in the main doubles draw at the ITA Texas Regional.
 
Junior Will Roberts battled through injuries at the beginning of the fall season but ended the season with a 3-3 record including a win in the opening round of the qualifying draw at the ITA Texas Regional.
 
"I feel like we're seven to eight people deep when it comes to guys that can compete at the DI level, which is really big," Robinson said. "The experience and talent that we have at the four through six spots, makes me feel very comfortable with what how we're going to lineup against anyone in the country."
 
Roberts also shined in doubles with fellow junior Paolo Bonaguro, advancing to the semifinals of the SLC Fall Championships. At the ITA Texas Regional, they played a tough three set battle against a duo from Texas before defeating TCU's Julian Alonso and Apltauer.
 
"Will and Paolo had a really good fall as far as doubles goes with losing a very tight super tiebreaker to Texas," Robinson said. "Then to turn around the next day and beating a good team from TCU and then making it to the semis of the SLC Championship, they just had a really good fall."
 
The Vaqueros look to carry the momentum from this fall into another successful spring season. Robinson hopes that playing a tough, heavy fall will help the guys peak at the right time and achieve their ultimate goal of winning the Southland Conference Championship.
 
"I think that we're going to be in a very good spot in January," Robinson said. "And, by the time we get to March and April, when it becomes big time, the guys are going to be in full stride.