EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP tennis team will open up its 2020 dual-match season by playing host to Western New Mexico at 12 p.m. MT Saturday. Admission is free. The Miners have a new look to the squad, with three returnees and eight newcomers.
"We are very excited to get out on the court after two weeks of practice," UTEP head coach
Ivan Fernandez said. "The team has been working extremely hard and is ready to get started. We have a great group this spring and if they can fight together and support each other, we will be very tough to beat."
UTEP rolled to a 5-2 mark at home in 2019, which included its first league victory in three years. The match with WNMU is the first of three straight at home to start the season for the Orange and Blue. Abilene Christian (Feb. 1) and New Mexico (Feb. 2) will also venture to the Sun City as part of the season-opening homestand. Overall UTEP will have seven home matches in 2020.
Vanessa Valdez will set the tone for the squad as the lone senior. Buoying her in the leadership position will be junior
Erandi Martinez. Also back in the fold is sophomore
Kathleen Percegona. The trio combined to post 17 wins in singles matches in 2019, with Martinez ranking second on the team with eight victories during the spring.
The returnees will have plenty of support, though, with eight newcomers suiting up for the Orange and Blue. All but Tennessee transfer
Lyric Bonilla will be eligible to compete in the spring. Junior Lina Sáchica paced all Miners in the fall with six wins.
Maria Aveiga, Thássane Abrahim,
Ailyn Castañeda,
Eve Daniels and
Ana Gonzalez also gained experience in the fall, and are ready to now impact the team in dual action.
"I am very excited for this last semester that I have of tennis," Valdez said. "We have a great team this year, and I hope we are going to do amazing this season."
For complete coverage of UTEP tennis, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at
@UTEPWTennis (Twitter),
@UTEP_Tennis (Instagram) and
on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at
UTEPMiners.com.
