Two Matches Slated This Weekend For UTEP Tennis

UTEP Miners

EL PASO, Texas- A six-match homestand will come to a close this weekend as the UTEP tennis team hosts UT Arlington and regional foe Wyoming on Friday, March 2 and Sunday March 3, respectively, at the El Paso Tennis and Swim Club. First serve on Friday against the Mavericks is slated for 2 p.m., while the Miners will meet the Cowgirls at 9 a.m. on Sunday. A neutral-site match between UT Arlington and Wyoming is set for Saturday, March 3, at 12 p.m.

The Miners are riding a two-match winning streak after handing No. 21 Tarleton State a 5-2 loss last Sunday. UTEP saw three wins in singles play from Chloe Purkiss, Erandi Martinez, and Alisa Morozova and capitalized on forfeits from the short-handed TexAnns' incomplete lineup for the win. Morozova notched a straight-set victory over Shelby Fillingame, while Purkiss sealed the match win for the Miners with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win over Sherine Salem. Martinez pushed for a 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 thrilling victory over Neetika Sud at the no. 2 spot and her fifth victory of the spring, a team-best. The Miners, fighting injuries, have also seen consistent play from Raven Bennett and Purkiss in doubles play, as they hold a 2-3 mark.

The Mavericks hold a 2-2 overall mark heading into the weekend, with wins over UMKC and UTRGV and losses from Wichita State and Rice. UTEP and UT Arlington last met on January 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas, with the Miners coming out on top in a tight 4-3 match. Freshman Lucia Natal has been a steady force for the Mavs, holding a 7-3 record overall and a 2-0 stand in dual match play playing primarily at the no. 5 position. Nanaka Takeuchi, another freshman, also has been a factor in the UT Arlington lineup with a 3-0 record at the no. 3 spot.

The Cowgirls are 2-4 and currently on a three-match skid, but will meet with New Mexico State and UT Arlington prior to the Sunday face-off with the Miners. Wyoming most recently fell 5-2 to Northern Arizona University, which beat the Miners by the same score in early February. The Miners and Cowgirls last met on February 18, 2017 in Laramie, Wyo., when Wyoming topped UTEP 4-0. At the no. 1 spot, Magdalena Stencel holds a 2-1 record in the spring, while Milka Genkova is a flawless 2-0 this spring at the no. 5 position.

Admission to both matches is free. Friday's theme is "Tennis Tails" and UTEP Athletics will be accepting donations of dog food, toys and tennis balls for the El Paso Animal Shelter in exchange for a doggy goody-bag.

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