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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Buoyed by the return of top player
Kirsten Prelle to the lineup, the UTEP tennis team defeated Portland State, 4-1, in a neutral-site match on Sunday. The Miners (5-12) claimed the doubles point to take the early lead before
Milena Baigorria, Prelle and
Vanessa Valdez all won in singles action to clinch the outcome against the Vikings (2-9).
"We came out strong today by winning the doubles," UTEP head coach
Ivan Fernandez said. "In the singles, we got wins from Milena (Baigorria) and Kirsten (Prelle) and then Vane (
Vanessa Valdez) clinched the match for us. I'm so proud of Milena for being the first one off the court. I'm super proud of the two injured and sick players for playing today and fighting to the end."
Rine Nozaki and
Erandi Martinez got things going in doubles play by drilling Lotti Meszaros and Gerda Upeniece, 6-1, at No. 3 doubles. PSU countered after
Kathleen Percegona and Yvette Van Oijen were clipped by Eszter Zador and Alli Valk, 6-3, at No. 2 doubles. UTEP took the team point though thanks to Valdez and Prelle prevailing, 6-4, at No. 1 doubles against Jacinta Milenkoski and Nina Nikitovic.
The Orange and Blue built on the momentum as the match moved into singles action. Baigorria made quick work of Upeniece with a 6-2, 6-2, result at No. 6 singles. Valk snuck past Van Oijen, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 5 singles, but the remainder of the matches went in favor of the Miners.
Prelle, who had missed the prior three matches with an injury, took down Milenkoski, 6-4, 7-5, at No. 1 singles. Valdez dropped the opening set, 6-3, against Meszaros at No. 2 singles. The junior regrouped and blasted her foe, 6-0, 6-2, in the final two sets to seal the team win for UTEP.
Percegona's match-up with Nikitovic went unfinished at No. 3 singles. She won the first set, 6-4, lost the second, 7-5, and was trailing, 3-0, when it was halted. Martinez's match vs. Zador at No. 4 singles also didn't finish. She dropped the opening set, 7-5. The second set was knotted, 6-6, when it was halted.
UTEP will return to the Sun City to wrap up the regular season with three home matches over the next two weeks. The Miners will challenge Boise State at 10 a.m. MT on Friday and UT Tyler at 12 p.m. MT Saturday. UTEP then locks up with I-10 rival NM State at 2 p.m. on April 13. Each of the matches will be held at the El Paso Tennis Center, with admission free to the public.
Portland State vs UTEP
3/31/2019 at Flagstaff, Ariz.
(Aquatic and Tennis Complex)
UTEP 4, Portland State 1
Singles competition
1.
Kirsten Prelle (UTEP) def. MILENKOSKI, Jacinta (PTSU) 6-4, 7-5
2.
Vanessa Valdez (UTEP) def. MESZAROS, Lotti (PTSU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
3.
Kathleen Percegona (UTEP) vs. NIKITOVIC, Nina (PTSU) 6-4, 5-7, 0-3, unfinished
4.
Erandi Martinez (UTEP) vs. ZADOR, Eszter (PTSU) 5-7, 6-6, unfinished
5. VALK, Alli (PTSU) def. Yvette Van Oijen (UTEP) 6-4, 6-1
6.
Milena Baigorria (UTEP) def. UPENIECE, Gerda (PTSU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1.
Vanessa Valdez/
Kirsten Prelle (UTEP) def. MILENKOSKI, Jacinta/NIKITOVIC, Nina (PTSU) 6-4
2. ZADOR, Eszter/VALK, Alli (PTSU) def.
Kathleen Percegona/Yvette Van Oijen (UTEP) 6-3
3.
Rine Nozaki/
Erandi Martinez (UTEP) def. MESZAROS, Lotti/UPENIECE, Gerda (PTSU) 6-1
