BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The UTEP tennis team was upended at WKU, 4-0, on Saturday. It marked the first of two road matches in as many days for the Miners (5-12, 1-3 C-USA), who will look to bounce back at Middle Tennessee at 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT Sunday.
 
"We lost 4-0, but we fought hard," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "We got off to a slow start in the doubles and just couldn't make it up. In the singles we showed some signs of hope. Tuca (Abrahim) was up in in the first set but couldn't close it out. Eve (Daniels) was up in the second set and Zu (Szczepanska) was up a set and 5-4 in the second serving for the match when it was decided.
 
"We are still not having everyone compete all the way through in order to pull out these matches. We have another tough one tomorrow at Middle Tennessee, and we will come out fighting."
 
The Toppers (15-9, 2-3 C-USA) put the Miners in an early hole by staking the doubles point. Veronika Lebisova and Thassane Abrahim were bounced, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles by Paola Cortez and Sayda Hernandez. Eve Daniels and Carlotta Mencaglia fell by the identical score at No. 3 doubles at the hands of Sofia Blanco and Rachel Hermanova. Zuzanna Szczepanska and Elena Dibattista were locked up in a good one (4-5) with Samantha Martinez and Mariana Zegada at No. 2 doubles when it was stopped with the point decided.
 
Needing four triumphs in singles action to rally, the Orange and Blue were unable to pull off that feat. Lebisova was bested by Cortez, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 1 while Mencaglia came up shy, 6-1, 6-3, vs. Hermanova at no. 2. Dibattista sustained a 6-4, 6-1, setback against Sunskrithi Damera at the second line.
 
Szczepanska was on the verge of toppling Hernandez (7-5, 5-4) at No. 3 singles when it was stopped. The other two singles matches also went unfinished.
 
Tennis Match Results
UTEP vs WKU
Apr 15, 2023, at Bowling Green, Ky.
WKU 4, UTEP 0
 
Singles competition
1. Paola Cortez (WKU) def. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 6-3, 6-3
2. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) 6-1, 6-3
3. Sayda Hernandez (WKU) vs. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 5-7, 4-5, unfinished
4. Sofia Blanco (WKU) vs. Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) 7-6, 3-5, unfinished
5. Sunskrithi Damera (WKU) def. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-4, 6-1
6. Mariana Zegada (WKU) vs. Eve Daniels (UTEP) 6-3, 6-5, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Paola Cortez/Sayda Hernandez (WKU) def. Veronika Lebisova/Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) 6-3
2. Samantha Martinez/Mariana Zegada (WKU) vs. Zuzanna Szczepanska/Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 5-4, unfinished
3. Sofia Blanco/Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Eve Daniels/Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
UTEP 5-12, 1-3 C-USA
WKU 15-9, 2-3 C-USA
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,1,5)
      
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