The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s tennis team had a strong start to the Javelina Jam tournament, racking up seven wins in singles and doubles on the first day of competition in Kingsville. With impressive performances across various draws, the Vaqueros showcased their depth and resilience, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Here's ads banner inside a post
Newcomers Shine in Blueberry Draw
Two of UTRGV’s newest additions, sophomores Madeleine Joffe and Hitakamya Narwal, were the standout players of the day. Competing in the Blueberry Draw, both Joffe and Narwal won their quarterfinal and semifinal matches to secure their spots in the championship round.
Joffe displayed exceptional determination, battling back from a set down in both her matches. In the quarterfinals, she faced Angelo State’s Elise Gillis, recovering after dropping the first set to win 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10:3). She continued her resilient play in the semifinals, defeating Prairie View A&M’s Daniela Garcia 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10:7).
Similarly, Narwal showed her competitive fire in a hard-fought quarterfinal match against Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Annalena Noll. After losing the first set, Narwal stormed back to win 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (14:12), displaying her mental toughness. She carried this momentum into the semifinals, where she edged out Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Yana Mykytyn in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6 (7:4). Joffe and Narwal will face each other in the Blueberry Draw championship on Saturday at 12 p.m., guaranteeing the Vaqueros a title in this bracket.
Here's ads banner inside a post
Castelain Advances to Peach Draw Championship
Sophomore Giuliana Castelain also impressed, reaching the finals of the singles Peach Draw. A McAllen High alum, Castelain fought through a challenging semifinal against Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Kaitlin Blount, coming out on top with a 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10:7) victory. Castelain will face Angelo State’s Ivet Stancheva in the championship match at 12 p.m., aiming to secure another win for the Vaqueros.
Freshman Buijtenhuijs Records First Collegiate Win
Freshman Luna Buijtenhuijs made her mark in her first collegiate tournament, winning her opening match in the Apricot Draw against Andrea Landaeta of Texas A&M-Kingsville. Buijtenhuijs secured a straight-set victory, 6-4, 6-3, showcasing her potential to be a future standout for UTRGV. Although she fell in the semifinals to Kseniya Ramanouskaya of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 6-2, 6-1, Buijtenhuijs will compete in the 3-4 playoff against Annika Gomez from Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday at 12 p.m.
Mixed Results in Doubles Play
The doubles competition saw mixed results for the Vaqueros, with several close matches. In the Marmalade Draw, the duo of Yaiza Vazquez and Hitakamya Narwal fell to Yana Mykytyn and Kseniya Ramanouskaya of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 8-4. Meanwhile, the pair of Madeleine Joffe and Luna Buijtenhuijs faced a setback in the Mixed Berry Draw as they were forced to withdraw due to injury.
Here's ads banner inside a post
Saturday will see several UTRGV pairs return to the court as they look to make their mark in doubles. Vazquez and Narwal will compete against TAMUK’s Luna Jokanovic and Guadalupe Tocci in the Marmalade Draw at 9 a.m., while Joffe and Buijtenhuijs will face Yasmin El Fadili and Amaya Bobadilla from Prairie View A&M at the same time in the Mixed Berry Draw.
UTRGV’s Path Forward
Saturday’s schedule promises to be action-packed for the Vaqueros. The highlight will undoubtedly be the all-UTRGV final in the Blueberry Draw between Joffe and Narwal, ensuring that UTRGV will take home at least one title from the tournament. Additionally, Castelain will have the chance to secure another championship in the Peach Draw, and Buijtenhuijs will aim for a podium finish in the Apricot Draw playoff.
The Vaqueros have already demonstrated their potential and competitive spirit on the first day of the Javelina Jam, and they’ll look to build on that success as the tournament progresses. With a mix of experienced players and promising newcomers, UTRGV’s women’s tennis team is poised to make a strong statement this season, beginning with their impressive performance in Kingsville.
