STEPHENVILLE, Texas – WAC Fall Tennis Invitational singles champion Noelia Lorca captured another honor Tuesday, being named the conference's Women's Tennis Player of the Month for October.
The Tarleton State senior won the inaugural WAC Fall Tennis Invitational on Oct. 27 in Abilene, Texas, defeating the top two seeds en route to the title. Lorca became the WAC's singles qualifier for the 2024 ITA Conference Masters Championship Nov. 7-10 in Rome, Georgia.
She also came up with two bagels (6-0 sets) in the WAC Fall Invitational and won 80 percent of the sets she played in Abilene.
Lorca is the second player this season to earn WAC Women's Tennis Player of the Month. Junior Adeliya Mukhutdinova was named the WAC Women's Tennis Singles Player of the Month in September after posting an 8-1 singles record during the month.
"What a well deserved honor. The entire fall, Noelia has been competing incredibly hard," head coach
Elianne Douglas-Miron said. "She has been pushing her teammates every day trying to set the example and ensure that everyone is ready for the spring. The WAC Fall Tennis Invitational title meant a lot to her. She knew how strong the field was, but gave herself a chance and fought for every single point. I am so proud of her and I think it's very impressive that she can claim to be the first ever WAC Fall Tennis Invitational"
Lorca has had a top fall performance for the Texans in the 2024 fall season. The Spaniard won the consolation doubles title with Emma Persson at the ITA Texas Regional Championships last month. Lorca carried that momentum in singles a few weeks later, winning four matches in three days as the No. 5 seed in the WAC Fall Tennis Invitational.
She captured the first-ever WAC Tennis Invitational singles championship by defeating UT Arlington's Ana Paula Jimenez in three sets 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-4 in the final at John TL Jones Tennis Center.
Lorca was named to the WAC Singles All-Conference Second Team and the conference's All-Tournament Team last year. She led the Texans in singles wins, finishing 18-2 (.900) overall, 2-0 at No. 3, 8-2 at No. 4 and 8-0 at No. 5 last season.
Prior to arriving in Stephenville, Lorca played two seasons (2021-23) at former WAC member Lamar, going 18-17 overall in singles. She won nine doubles matches and went undefeated in Southland Conference play to earn First Team All-SLC honors.
Lorca will compete in her first match at the ITA Conference Masters Championship in Rome, Georgia, starting Thursday. She will be one of 32 singles players fighting for four automatic bids to the NCAA Singles Championship Nov. 19-24 in Waco.
