RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's and women's tennis programs returned to the court Monday to begin the fall season.
 
The women began practice early in the morning as the sun began to peek out over the Orville I. Cox Tennis Center. The Vaqueros came out with intensity, competing with high levels of energy and already displayed tremendous focus on the details.
 
"I was pleasantly surprised with the with the way we started this fall," head women's tennis coach West Nott said. "This has been the best first practice in my tenure at UTRGV."
 
Nott mentioned his excitement at the conditioning of his team. They enter the fall in great shape physically and have already started to limit mental errors.
 
The veteran squad with eight returners is riding a high wave of momentum after finishing fifth in the Southland Conference (SLC) last spring. Nott credited the team's ability to already build and learn from last year's success.
 
When the men took the courts, the sun was beaming overhead at the Orville I. Cox Tennis Center.
 
The Vaqueros came out in good shape and were ready to build on a strong spring 2025 campaign that saw them finish second in the regular season.
 
"I think that this was definitely the best first day we've had since I've been here," head men's tennis coach Nathan Robinson said. "The goals are already there, and the guys know what they're trying to accomplish."
 
Eight Vaqueros return from that last year's team that established the goals for the 2025-26 season.
 
"I mean, the guys know what's coming," Robinson said. "They know what it is. They know what the work looks like, and I don't need to spend a lot of time explaining those things."
 
Robinson expects the Vaqueros to get six full practices in before the Corpus Invite on from Sept. 12-14.
 
"The guys came back ready which means that we don't have much to worry," Robinson said. "Now, it's time to just get going."

Support UTRGV Men's Tennis | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube
Support UTRGV Women's Tennis | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube