UTRGV Men’s Tennis Faces Arkansas in a Record-Setting Match
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men’s tennis team encountered the Arkansas Razorbacks in an exciting match that drew a record attendance of 416 fans, including 84 local children, to the H-E-B Tennis Center in Harlingen on Saturday. Despite a tough battle, the Vaqueros fell 6-1 to their Southeastern Conference rivals.
A Strong Start for UTRGV
The Vaqueros kicked off the match enthusiastically, showcasing impressive teamwork in doubles competition. The talented duo of junior Will Roberts and graduate student Sam Whitehead delivered a commanding performance on court two, clinching a 6-2 victory against their opponents. With Arkansas securing a win on court one, the spotlight turned to court three for what would be a decisive doubles showdown.
In a thrilling matchup, the Chilean pair of Santiago Serrano and sophomore Loic Young Kriegel displayed resilience against Arkansas’s Gabriel Elicha and Lukas Palovic. With the score tied at 5-5, Serrano and Young seized control to ultimately secure the doubles point, giving UTRGV a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
Junior Clinic Engages Local Youth
Prior to the competitive action, UTRGV’s men’s and women’s tennis programs hosted a free junior clinic for children in grades 5-10. This engaging event allowed 84 youngsters to receive tennis instruction from Division I athletes and experience a thrilling match-up, marking the first time since 1979 that UTRGV welcomed a team from the Southeastern Conference.
Singles Competition Shifts Momentum
However, the momentum quickly swung in favor of the Razorbacks during singles competition. Arkansas demonstrated their strength, securing victories in straight sets across all courts. On court one, Whitehead pushed the match to a competitive 6-4 in the first set but ultimately succumbed to Palovic, losing the second set 6-2.
On court four, Roberts faced a challenging contest against Arkansas’s Dmitry Kopilevich, falling 6-4, 6-3. Sophomore Tsz Him "Michael" Chan faced similar challenges on court six, after losing the first set 6-2 but narrowly losing the second set 6-4 to Eric Padgham.
Upcoming Matches and Fan Engagement
Looking ahead, the Vaqueros are set to return to the H-E-B Tennis Center Sunday to take on Rice at 11 a.m. This match is not only free to the public but will also be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans can follow along with live stats through StatBroadcast.
Match Results at a Glance
Doubles Results:
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67 Eric Padgham/Ben Weintraub (Arkansas) def. Michael Chan/Ivo Isqueiro (UTRGV), 6-1
- Will Roberts/Sam Whitehead (UTRGV) def. Dmitry Kopilevich/Connor Smillie (Arkansas), 6-2
- Santiago Serrano/Loic Young Kriegel (UTRGV) def. Gabriel Elicha (Arkansas), 7-5
Singles Results:
- Lukas Palovic (Arkansas) def. Sam Whitehead (UTRGV), 6-4, 6-2
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18 Jakub Vrba (Arkansas) def. Ivo Isqueiro (UTRGV), 6-1, 6-3
- Ben Weintraub (Arkansas) def. Santiago Serrano (UTRGV), 6-1, 6-3
- Dmitry Kopilevich (Arkansas) def. Will Roberts (UTRGV), 6-4, 6-3
- Gabriel Elicha (Arkansas) def. Loic Young Kriegel (UTRGV), 6-1, 6-1
- Eric Padgham (Arkansas) def. Tsz Him Chan (UTRGV), 6-2, 6-4
The Vaqueros, with the support of their passionate fans, continue to represent their institution on the national stage. Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming match against Rice and support UTRGV men’s tennis as they aim for victory!
