April 17, 2008
The 2008 season came to a close for the UTEP tennis team on Thursday, as the Miners fell short in their attempt to upend host Houston in the opening round of the Conference USA tournament. UTEP received singles victories from Weronika Bloczynska and Amber Brightly, but it wasn't enough as the Cougars earned the doubles point and emerged victorious on the other courts for a 4-2 win.
The Miners finish the campaign at 9-12 while UH improves to 16-10 and will take on Rice on Friday. It was a season which started promising, as the Orange and Blue raced out of the gates at 7-2. Injuries, coupled with a demanding stretch of 10 straight matches away from home, derailed things for the Orange and Blue however.
The future is bright, though, as UTEP returns all seven letterwinners from the squad. Additionally, count on head coach Jamie Campbell and assistant coach Victor Aguilar to bring in at least one more talented individual who will make the 2008-09 team that much stronger.
On this day, unfortunately, despite good effort by the Miners they were dispatched. Bloczynska and Megan Pritchard picked up a victory at No. 1 doubles, doing so with an 8-5 toppling of the Cougars' Jordan McCombs and Lucy Forward. Ultimately UH took the early lead in the match, courtesy of identical 8-6 triumphs at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.
In singles action, Bloczynska showed tremendous heart at No. 1 versus Forward. After dropping the opening set, 0-6, the junior rallied by winning the second set 6-0. She then put away the match by virtue of a 6-4 count in the final set.
Brightly also showed a flair for the dramatic, overcoming a first-set loss by the score of 6-1. The native of El Paso struck back in the second set, 6-3, before putting away Joanna Kaprzyk in the final set, 6-4, at No. 6 singles.
UTEP was unable to pick up any more wins, though, as the Cougars secured a three-set triumph in No. 2 singles and a air of the straight set variety at No. 3 and No. 5 singles.
Tennis Match Results
Houston 4, UTEP 2
Singles competition
1. Weronika Bloczynska (UTEP) def. Lucy Forward (HOU) 0-6, 6-0, 6-4
2. Leila Salek (HOU) def. Marina Deluca (UTEP) 5-7, 6-2, 6-0
3. Neila Starratt (HOU) def. Megan Pritchard (UTEP) 6-3, 6-4
4. Lynley Wasson (HOU) vs. Ximena Fuentes (UTEP) 7-5, 5-1, unfinished
5. Vicky Simpson (HOU) def. Vicky Michaud (UTEP) 6-1, 6-2
6. Amber Brightly (UTEP) def. Joanna Kaprzyk (HOU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Weronika Bloczynska/Megan Pritchard (UTEP) def. Jordan McCombs/Lucy Forward (HOU) 8-5
2. Joanna Kaprzyk/Lynley Wasson (HOU) def. Marina DeLuca/Ximena Fuentes (UTEP) 8-6
3. Leila Salek/Vicky Simpson (HOU) def. Amber Brightly/Vicky Michaud (UTEP) 8-6
