Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Thassane Abrahim, Veronika Lebisova and Zuzanna Szczepanska all picked up wins in a narrow 4-3 setback for the UTEP tennis team at Samford Saturday. The Miners (3-10) went down fighting in doubles action before mounting a rally that came up just shy against the Bulldogs (8-4) in singles play.
 
"It was a tough match today," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "We had chances to win the doubles point but couldn't close it out. Vero (Lebisova), Zu (Szczepanska) and Tuca (Abrahim) played very solid today, but we needed one more to step up. We just didn't play consistently enough and gave away too many free points. We need to adjust quickly for tomorrow as we have another tough opponent in UAB."
 
All three doubles matches were tightly contested, but each went the way of Samford to afford it an early 1-0 advantage in the contest. Eve Daniels and Carlotta Mencaglia were edged, 7-6, by Cameron Rogin and Olivia Jablonski at No. 3 doubles. Szczepanska and Elena Dibattista went down swinging, 6-4, against Alexis Lopez and Lauren Waddles, at No. 2 doubles. Abrahim and Lebisova fell by the identical score against Samantha Nanera and Lindsay Song at the top position.
 
UTEP looked to post a come-from-behind victory once play switched to singles, but that bid came up just shy. It was not for lack of effort, with Abrahim, Lebisova and Szczepanska emerging victorious. Lebisova cruised past Ally Hayduk, 6-4, 6-0, at No. 2 singles. Szczepanska lost the first set against Nanera, 6-4, but was practically flawless in the final two sets on the way to staking them, 6-1, 6-0, for a triumph at No. 3 singles. Abrahim also went to three sets, toppling Song, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1, at No. 4 singles.
 
UTEP needed just one more victory at any of the other three courts to take home the win, but it wasn't in the cards. Mencaglia was upended, 6-3, 6-3, by Lopez at No. 1 singles. Dibattista fell by a count of 6-1, 6-2, against Rogin at No. 5 singles. Daniels was dispatched by Jablonski, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 6 singles.
 
The Miners will vie to bounce back against Conference USA opponent UAB at 11 a.m. MT/12 p.m. CT Sunday.
 
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Tennis Match Results
UTEP at Samford
Mar 18, 2023, at Birmingham, Ala.
Samford 4, UTEP 3
Singles competition
1. Alexis Lopez (SAM) def. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) 6-3, 6-3
2. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) def. Ally Hayduk (SAM) 6-4, 6-0
3. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) def. Samantha Nanera (SAM) 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
4. Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) def. Lindsay Song (SAM) 6-4, 6-7, 6-1
5. Cameron Rogin (SAM) def. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-1, 6-2
6. Olivia Jablonski (SAM) def. Eve Daniels (UTEP) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Samantha Nanera/Lindsay Song (SAM) def. Thassane Abrahim/Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 6-4
2. Alexis Lopez/Lauren Waddles (SAM) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska/Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-4
3. Cameron Rogin/Olivia Jablonski (SAM) def. Eve Daniels/Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) 7-6
 
Match Notes:
UTEP 3-10
Samford 8-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,2,3,5,4,6)