EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP tennis team won the doubles point and got a singles triumph from Thassane Abrahim, but Northern Arizona managed victories on the other courts to knock off the Miners, 5-2, at the El Paso Tennis Club Saturday.
 
"It was another tough loss today," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "We came out hot, winning the doubles point. We fought really hard against a very good team. We had some close matches but could not get close enough to win them. We are playing hard but just not getting it done. We will get back to work on Monday to try to get ready for another weekend of tough matches."
 
UTEP came out with ample intensity, staking wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to secure the point and the early lead in the match. Abrahim and Veronika Lebisova cruised past Ava Neyestani and Ana Guadiana, 6-3, at the top spot. Szczepanska and Elena Dibattista dominated Daryna Shoshyna and Elinor Beazley, 6-2, at No. 3 doubles. The Miners' pairing of Eve Daniels and Carlotta Mencaglia was clipped by Laura Duhl and Pat Niewiadomska, 6-4, at No. 2 doubles but it didn't matter with the outcome on the other courts.
 
The Orange and Blue looked to keep things going in singles, searching for three wins to cut down the Lumberjacks, but alas it wasn't to be. Abrahim did her part in a mentally-toughness demonstrating 6-4, 6-4 vanquishing of Neyestani at No. 4 singles. Mencaglia dropped the first set against Guadiana at No. 2 singles, 6-0, but roared back in the second to stake it, 6-2. It was back and forth in the third set before she fell, 7-6, to come up just shy.
 
Paloma Hennicaux started strong by rolling to a 6-1 win in the first set against Duhl at No. 6 singles. She couldn't sustain the momentum, dropping the final two sets, 6-4, 6-0. Szczepanska was held off by Niewiadomska, 7-5, 6-1, at No. 3 singles while Lebisova was upended, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 1 singles against Sofia Markova. Dibattista sustained a 6-4, 6-0 setback at No. 5 singles at the hands of Shoshyna.
 
UTEP will challenge Abilene Christian (10 a.m.-Feb. 25) and New Mexico (10 a.m.-Feb. 26) to wrap up a four-match homestand. The match with the Lobos will serve as the "915 contest" for the Orange and Blue. Each of the matches will be held at the El Paso Tennis Center, and admission is free.
 
Tennis Match Results
Northern Arizona vs UTEP
Feb 18, 2023, at El Paso, Texas
(El Paso Tennis Club)
Northern Arizona 5, UTEP 2
 
Singles competition
1. MARKOVA, Sofia (NAU) def. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 6-3, 6-3
2. GUADIANA, Ana (NAU) def. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) 6-0, 2-6, 7-6
3. NIEWIADOMSKA, Pat (NAU) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 7-5, 6-1
4. Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) def. NEYESTANI, Ava (NAU) 6-4, 6-4
5. SHOSHYNA, Daryna (NAU) def. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-4, 6-0
6. DUHL, Laura (NAU) def. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) 1-6, 6-4, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Thassane Abrahim/Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) def. NEYESTANI, Ava/GUADIANA, Ana (NAU) 6-3
2. DUHL, Laura/NIEWIADOMSKA, Pat (NAU) def. Carlotta Mencaglia/Eve Daniels (UTEP) 6-4
3. Zuzanna Szczepanska/Elena Dibattista (UTEP) def. SHOSHYNA, Daryna/BEAZLEY, Elinor (NAU) 6-2
 
Match Notes:
Northern Arizona 3-3
UTEP 2-7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,1,3,6,4,2)
 
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