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EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP tennis team will venture up I-25 to play at New Mexico at 12 p.m. MT Saturday. It is the lone scheduled match of the weekend for the Miners (3-8). The Lobos (3-7) have lost five consecutive matches, but they are undefeated (3-0) at home.
"The team is ready to get back on the court this weekend at New Mexico," UTEP head coach
Ivan Fernandez said. "We always have competitive matches with UNM, and this one will not be any different. We are still improving with every match, and I expect us to fight hard from the first point to the last."
Most recently the Orange and Blue were bounced by Colorado State, 5-2, on March 3. UTEP was downed by the Rams despite claiming the doubles point and getting a win at No. 1 singles from
Kirsten Prelle. Prelle enters Saturday's match at 16-6 on the campaign, including 7-3 in dual play. Both of those totals top the team.
Sophomore
Erandi Martinez also sports a winning record (5-4) in dual action, thanks to the 5-2 mark when playing at No. 3 singles. Also coming on strong of late is senior Yvette Van Oijen, who stands at 4-5 in dual play. She missed the fall due to an injury, but has been an impact player this spring.
Freshmen
Rine Nozaki and
Kathleen Percegona each have registered three wins during the dual season while junior transfer
Vanessa Valdez has a pair of victories.
In doubles action the tandem of Percegona and Prelle has compiled a mark of 5-3 in the spring (3-3 at No. 1, 2-0 at No. 2). Valdez and Van Oijen have also been successful, with a team-high six wins (and four losses) in dual action. Both pairings emerged victorious against Colorado State. Martinez and Nozaki have also tasted victory three times this spring.
