EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP tennis team won the doubles point and then kept things going in singles play on the way to drilling Division II Western New Mexico, 7-0, in its home opener at the El Paso Tennis Club Friday.

"Western New Mexico came out with a lot of energy today and gave us quite a battle," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "We were able to step it up and win all the singles after securing the doubles point. It was great to play at home again, and we hope to see everyone out again on Wednesday when we play Texas A&M-CC at 11 a.m."
 
Thassane Abrahim and Veronika Lebisova cruised past Jenny Larsson and Livia Leite, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles to get things going for UTEP. Carlotta Mencaglia and Eve Daniels followed suit with a 6-2 waxing of Kajsa Gedlitschka and Caini Wang at No. 2 doubles. Zuzanna Szczepanska and Elena Dibattista were clipped, 6-4, by Willemijn Van Miero and Andreea Arnautu at No. 3 doubles, but it was a moot point with the Orange and Blue taking care of business in the other two matches.
 
The Miners were flawless in singles action, claiming all six of the matches. Lebisova initiated the takedown with a 6-3, 6-0, vanquishing of Van Miero at No. 1 singles. Mencaglia kept it up by drilling Leite, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 2 singles. Dibattista was practically perfect in a 6-1, 6-1, win against Gedlitschka at No. 5 singles.
 
Szczepanska took care of business in a 6-2, 6-1, triumph vs. Larsson at No. 3 singles. Daniels knocked off Massiel Paredes, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 6 singles. Abrahim capped off the run by taking out Wang, 7-5, 6-1, at No. 4 singles.
 
UTEP has a quick turnaround, competing at BIG-12 member Texas Tech at 2 p.m. MT/ 3 p.m. CT on Sunday.
 
Jan 20, 2023 at El Paso, Texas
(El Paso Tennis Club)
UTEP 7, Western New Mexico 0
Singles competition
1. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) def. Willemijn Van Miero (WNMU) 6-3, 6-0
2. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) def. Livia Leite (WNMU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) def. Jenny Larsson (WNMU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) def. Caini Wang (WNMU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) def. Kajsa Gedlitschka (WNMU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Eve Daniels (UTEP) def. Massiel Paredes (WNMU) 6-3, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Thassane Abrahim/Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) def. Jenny Larsson/Livia Leite (WNMU) 6-1
2. Carlotta Mencaglia/Eve Daniels (UTEP) def. Kajsa Gedlitschka/Caini Wang (WNMU) 6-2
3. Willemijn Van Miero/Andreea Arnautu (WNMU) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska/Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Western New Mexico 0-1
UTEP 1-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,5,3,6,4)
 
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