MIDLAND, Texas – Junior
Vanessa Valdez secured the consolation title in a walk over (Almudena Bosa-UTA was no show) to cap off action for the UTEP tennis team at the Midland Racquet Club Intercollegiate Invitational Sunday.
Valdez, who was bounced in the first round on Friday, regrouped in a huge way in the back draw. She started the run by rallying to defeat Autumn Crossnoe (ACU), 2-6, 6-0, (10-3) later that day. She kept things going on Saturday with two victories in as many matches. She bested Sonia Grzywocz (UAB), 6-1, 6-3, in the quarterfinals of the consolation draw. She then secured a spot in the championship of the back draw by toppling Carla Pone (UTA), 6-0, 6-3. It was an anti-climactic final with Bosa not competing, but it didn't overshadow the efforts on the weekend.
"Overall it was a very positive weekend," UTEP head coach
Ivan Fernandez said. "It was great to see the girls compete so well against solid competition. I was very impressed with Milena (Baigorria). She has improved so much from last semester. Erandi (Martinez) as always competed extremely hard. She will be back in top form shortly. We will have time to recover and to get ready for the NM State Invitational."
UTEP will return to the courts when it takes part in the NM State Aggie Invite (Sept. 21-23).
