BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UTEP tennis team took the doubles point and then kept things going with wins in singles from Elena Dibattista, Veronika Lebisova and Carlotta Mencaglia on the way to posting an emotional 4-3 victory at UAB Sunday.
 
It marks the first Conference USA triumph for the Miners (4-10) since 2019 (no league contests past two seasons). It is also the initial league road victory for the Orange and Blue since 2016 when they toppled UTSA, 4-1, incidentally enough also on March 19. The Blazers (7-8) put up a fight, but UTEP showed its mettle to pull out the win.
 
"We started with a lot of energy by winning the doubles point at No. 1 and No. 2," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "In the singles, we knew it was going to be a battle, and it was. Ele (Dibattista) and Vero (Lebisova) won in straight sets and it came down to Lotti (Carlotta Mencaglia) in the third set to clinch the match. I'm so proud of this group for continuing to fight. We really needed this win today."
 
UTEP got off to the start it needed by securing the doubles point. Lebisova and Thassane Abrahim took out Maggie White and Sydney Clarke, 7-5, at No. 1 singles. Zuzanna Szczepanska and Dibattista made it official by cruising past Adela Wasserbauerova and Annalisa Smith, 6-3, at No. 2 doubles. Mencaglia and Eve Daniels were dispatched by Enya Ratkic and Vanessa Mellynchuk, 6-3, at No. 3 doubles, but it was a moot point.
 
Armed with the early lead, UTEP needed just three victories in singles action to secure the team triumph. The Miners did just that, with Lebisova and Dibattista starting it off before Mencaglia clinched it. Lebisova rolled past White, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 1 singles while Dibattista crushed Ratkic, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 5 singles. Mencaglia locked up with Wasserbauerova at No. 2 singles, delivering a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 triumph in three sets to set off a celebration by the squad.
 
Szczepanska came up short against Clarke, 6-3, 6-0, at No. 3 singles. Abrahim was edged, 6-3, 6-4, by Smith at No. 4 singles while Daniels was dropped by Mellynchuk, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 6 singles.  
 
UTEP will have some time off before a visit to LA Tech on April 8. The Miners will then wrap up the weekend by competing at Grambling State on April 9.
 
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For complete coverage of UTEP tennis, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPWTennis (Twitter), @UTEPTennis (Instagram) and on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
 
Tennis Match Results
UTEP vs UAB
Mar 19, 2023 at Birmingham, Ala.
UTEP 4, UAB 3
 
Singles competition
1. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) def. Maggie White (UAB) 6-1, 6-4
2. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) def. Adela Wasserbauerova (UAB) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
3. Sydney Clarke (UAB) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 6-3, 6-0
4. Annalisa Smith (UAB) def. Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) 6-3, 6-4
5. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) def. Enya Ratkic (UAB) 6-0, 6-3
6. Vanessa Mellynchuk (UAB) def. Eve Daniels (UTEP) 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Veronika Lebisova/Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) def. Maggie White/Sydney Clarke (UAB) 7-5
2. Zuzanna Szczepanska/Elena Dibattista (UTEP) def. Adela Wasserbauerova/Annalisa Smith (UAB) 6-3
3. Enya Ratkic/Vanessa Mellynchuk (UAB) def. Carlotta Mencaglia/Eve Daniels (UTEP) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
UTEP 7-8
UAB 4-10
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,6,5,4,1,2)