TUCSON, Ariz. – The UTEP tennis team won the doubles point, but it was unable to keep the momentum going in singles action in an eventual rain-shortened 5-1 setback at Pacific-12 member Arizona Sunday morning.

"We got off to a great start winning No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to secure the point against a very strong Arizona team," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "In singles, we had some really positive signs but just got outplayed. Vero (Lebisova) was playing very solid tennis and was up 3-2 (in third set) when we had to stop the match due to rain. I thought for our first match of the spring that we fought hard but they were stronger. I see a lot of positives as well as what we need to continue to work on for the rest of season."
 
The Miners got out of the gates quickly, with Eve Daniels and Carlotta Mencaglia besting Kayla Wilkins and Lexi Ryngler, 6-3, at No. 2 doubles. Paloma Hennicaux and Elena Dibattista knocked off Salma Ziouti and Tanvi Narendran at No. 3 doubles by the same score to secure the doubles point and the early lead for UTEP. Parker Fry and Belen Nevenhoven snuck past Thassane Abrahim and Veronika Lebisova, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles.
 
The Orange and Blue aspired to keep things rolling in singles play, but the home side rallied back for the win. Abrahim was clipped by Fry, 6-1, 7-5, at No. 4 singles. Zuzanna Szczepanska was held off by Narendran 6-4, 6-3, at No. 3 singles. Mencaglia was bested by Ziouti, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 2 singles.
 
Dibattista was defeated by Ryngler 6-1, 6-0, at No. 5 singles while Hennicaux was taken out by Nevenhoven, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 6 singles. Lebisova was leading, 1-6, 6-2, 3-2 when the match went unfinished due to rain.
 
UTEP will be back on the courts for its home opener against Western New Mexico at 9 a.m. MT at the El Paso Tennis Club Friday. Admission is free. The Miners will then have a quick turnaround, playing at BIG-12 member Texas Tech at 2 p.m. MT on Jan. 22.
 
Tennis Match Results
UTEP at University of Arizona
Jan 15, 2023, at Tucson, Ariz.
(LaNelle Robson Tennis Center)
 
University of Arizona 5, UTEP 1
Singles competition
1. Kayla Wilkins (ARIZ) vs. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 1-6, 6-2, unfinished
2. Salma Ziouti (ARIZ) def. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) 6-1, 6-4
3. Tanvi Narendran (ARIZ) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 6-4, 6-3
4. Parker Fry (ARIZ) def. Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) 6-1, 7-5
5. Lexi Ryngler (ARIZ) def. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-1, 6-0
6. Belen Nevenhoven (ARIZ) def. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) 6-0, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Parker Fry/Belen Nevenhoven (ARIZ) def. Thassane Abrahim/Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 6-3
2. Eve Daniels/Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) def. Kayla Wilkins/Lexi Ryngler (ARIZ) 6-3
3. Paloma Hennicaux/Elena Dibattista (UTEP) def. Salma Ziouti/Tanvi Narendran (ARIZ) 6-3
 
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