MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Freshman Paloma Hennicaux secured her first career win in dual play during the UTEP tennis team's 6-1 setback at Conference USA foe Middle Tennessee in its regular-season finale Sunday. The Miners (5-13, 1-4 C-USA) will now turn their attention to the 2023 C-USA Championships, which will begin Thursday.
 
"Unfortunately, we were not able to finish the season on a positive note before the conference tournament," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "Everyone had to move up in the lineup due to Lotti's (Mencaglia) injury. We fought as hard as we could, but if we can't find a way to not give away so many points, we will not be able to start winning more. It was great to have Palo (Hennicaux) get her first dual match singles victory. I just wish we could have played a little better across the entire lineup."
 
Paloma highlighted the day with an impressive 6-3, 6-0, triumph at No. 6 singles against Camila Barragan. She had been moved up into action due to an injury to Carlotta Mencaglia. Elsewhere in singles the Orange and Blue played well in spurts but were unable to come away with results.
 
Veronika Lebisova was clipped, 6-7, 6-3, 11-9, at No. 1 singles by Love-Star Alexis. Zuzanna Szczepanska came up shy against Sana Garakani, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 2 singles. Thassane Abrahim was held off by Muskan Gupta, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
 
Elena Dibattista fell to Noelle Mauro, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 4 singles while Eve Daniels was upended by Lilly-Sophie Schmidt, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 5 singles.
 
The Blue Raiders also took the doubles point. Daniels and Hennicaux went down swinging against Schmidt and Cara Zzilasi, 6-3, at No. 3 doubles. Dibattista and Szczepanska sustained a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Garakani and Mauro, at No. 2 doubles.
 
The Miners will now prepare for the 2023 C-USA Championships.
 
Tennis Match Results
UTEP vs Middle Tennessee
4/16/2023 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Middle Tennessee 6, UTEP 1
 
Singles competition
1. Love-Star Alexis (MTSU) def. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 11-9
2. Sana Garakani (MTSU) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
3. Muskan Gupta (MTSU) def. Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
4. Noelle Mauro (MTSU) def. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-1, 6-3
5. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt (MTSU) def. Eve Daniels (UTEP) 6-1, 6-4
6. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) def. Camila Barragan (MTSU) 6-3, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Love-Star Alexis/Muskan Gupta (MTSU) vs. Thassane Abrahim/Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 2-5, unfinished
2. Sana Garakani/Noelle Mauro (MTSU) def. Elena Dibattista/Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 6-1
3. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt/Cara Szilasi (MTSU) def. Eve Daniels/Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
UTEP 5-13
Middle Tennessee 11-9
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,4,5,2,3,1)
Official: Ted Mason T-4:00 A-103
      
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