SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Veronika Lebisova knocked off Myah Petchey (San Diego State), 6-2, 6-4, to highlight the action for the UTEP tennis team on the opening day of the San Diego State Invitational Friday.
 
"Today was a tough day for us on the courts," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "We typically struggle on the first day coming down to sea level from close to 4,000 feet in elevation, and today was no different, especially with the level of competition. It was great to have almost everyone back playing again, and we had three new doubles teams. While we played hard today, our lone win came from senior Veronika Lebisova who defeated Maya Petchey from SDSU in straight sets in the top singles draw. We will continue to improve and be ready for tomorrow."
 
Elena Dibattista went down swinging against Emma Moratalla Sanz (CSUN), 7-5, 6-2, in the quarterfinals of the Red Draw while Paloma Hennicaux was upended by Sofia Pinto (Minnesota), 6-3, 6-2, in the same bracket. Hanna Telzynska fell to Anali Kocevar (Minnesota), 6-0, 6-3, in the quarterfinals of the Black Draw and Zuzanna Szczepanska was knocked off by Emma Belluomini (Minnesota), 6-2, 6-1.
 
Carlotta Mencaglia came up short against Santa Strombacha (Grand Canyon) in the White Draw. Emma Stuart was derailed by Tallia Harper (CSUN), 6-1, 6-1, and Antoine DeCora was dispatched by Vitoria Solis Urdiales (CSUN), 6-2, 6-2.
 
In doubles play, Mencaglia and Telzynska were bested by Rania Azziz and Andreea Velcea (SDSU), 6-2. Szczepanska and Lebisova were bested by Strombacha and Natasha Puehse (GCU), 6-2. Stuart and Dibattista went down swinging against Victoria Santiabanez Luna and Cindy Ung (CSUN), 6-4. It was the same fate for Hennicaux and Antoine, as they were dropped by the identical score against Harper and Moratalla Sanz (CSUN), 6-4.
 
The Orange and Blue continue play at the SDSU Invite through the weekend.
 
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