LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The UTEP tennis team picked up singles wins from
Zuzanna Szczepanska and
Paloma Hennicaux while gaining valuable experience in battling the top players in the region on the opening day of action at the ITA Mountain Regionals Thursday.
"We are playing hard but not getting the results we want," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernande said. "We know we can play better and hope to come out fighting tomorrow."
The Miners had three pairings in the main draw of the doubles, but each duo was dealt a gut-wrenching 8-7 defeat.
Candice Bernier and Szczepanska were edged by Anna Pinaieva and Nadia Nemeth (NM State).
Carlotta Mencaglia and
Hanna Telzynska came up just short vs. Marta Garcia-Reboredo and Hudson Hawkins (Montana State).
Wendy Zhang and Hennicaux were held off by Lera Alexin and Willow Gretsch (Colorado).
Szczepanska dug deep to best Stefanya Shalakhova (Idaho State), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, to advance in the qualifying singles draw. Hennicaux looked to join her in moving forward. She battled before succumbing to Maria Sodre (New Mexico), 6-4, 6-3. Hennicaux found redemption in the back draw, knocking off Aleksandra Bozinovska (Weber State), 6-2, 6-3.
Zhang also was dealt a three-set setback at the hands of Millie Day (Idaho State), 6-0, 7-6, 2-6. Telzynska fell short against Shivaani Selvan (Air Force), 6-4, 6-1.
UTEP will continue play at the event on Friday.
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