Tarleton State Tennis wraps up regular season with UTA rematch, ACU road contest

STEPHENVILLE, Texas - Tarleton State Tennis prepares for its final home match of the season on Thursday 1 p.m. at the Tarleton Tennis Facility with a rematch against UT Arlington before traveling to in-state rival Abilene Christian on Saturday.

Thursday will be Senior Day and will honor Tarleton State's two seniors, and , with a special pre-match ceremony. The match will also feature Corps Cadets Day and early arriving fans will receive boot koozies and seat cushions. Admission to Thursday's match is free.

The Texans are coming off a competitive stretch, highlighted by a thrilling 4-3 victory over two-time defending WAC champions Grand Canyon last Friday. With the match tied 3-3, freshman delivered in the clutch. Castano dominated the third set 6-0 to secure the team win. Castano's comeback win (3-6, 6-2, 6-0) over GCU's Angelina Mihajlovic not only sealed the upset, but also marked her 13th singles victory of the season.

After a loss at No. 63 nationally-ranked SMU on Sunday, the Texans will look to bounce back in their home finale against UT Arlington before heading to Abilene for a road match. Both matches carry significant weight in the conference standings, as Tarleton State is in the hunt for a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament.

UTA won the previous matchup against the Texans 4-2 on March 30 in Arlington. This will be the first meeting in the spring with ACU.

The weekend also marks a return to familiar ground for Lorca, who made history last fall at Abilene Christian's John T.L. Jones Tennis Facility by winning the first-ever WAC Tennis Invitational singles championship. Lorca clinched the title with a gritty three-set win over UT Arlington's Ana Paula Jimenez. Her championship run included four wins in three days, highlighted by a tiebreak victory in the opening set of the final and a gutsy finish in the final set.

Thursday's match will be a meaningful one for the Texans as they celebrate Senior Day, honoring Lorca and fellow senior Burger for their impact on the program. Lorca, a 2024 WAC All-Second Team and All-Tournament Team selection, has been a consistent force in singles and doubles. Burger is a four-time WAC Doubles Player of the Week winner this season.

Live scoring will be available for all matches on iOnCourt