EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP tennis team claimed the doubles point and then picked up three wins in singles, including a three-set victory by Veronika Lebisova to clinch the match, in a 4-3 vanquishing of Abilene Christian at the El Paso Tennis Club Friday.
 
The Miners (2-8) pounced on the Wildcats (2-5) early by securing wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles on the way to taking the team point. Zuzanna Szczepanska and Lebisova took care of business at the top slot before Carlotta Mencaglia and Hanna Telzynska secured the point with their outcome at No. 2 doubles.
 
UTEP continued to shine in singles where Mencaglia (No. 1 singles) and Paloma Hennicaux (No. 6 singles) put the Orange and Blue on the brink of victory. Lebisova then posted a come-from-behind three-set triumph at No. 2 singles to clinch the match for the Miners.
 
"I'm so proud of this team and the energy that they brought to this match today," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "It was a total team effort today. I knew that we had it in us. We just needed everyone to show up and fight, and we would turn this around."
 
Everything commenced in doubles where UTEP made it clear it was ready to go. Szczepanska and Lebisova blasted Olivia Sears and Maryjoe Crisologo, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles. Mencaglia and Telzynska showed their resolve by taking out Masha Vrsalovic and Andrea Guerrero, 6-4, at No. 2 doubles. Those two outcomes rendered the result of Elena Dibattista and DeCora Antoine falling 6-1 at No. 3 doubles to Maria Cascos and Libby Blair moot.
 
Armed with the early 1-0 advantage, the Orange and Blue did what was necessary in singles to taste victory. Mencaglia cruised past Crisologo, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 1 singles while Hennicaux bounced Blair, 6-3, 6-1. Lebisova dropped the first set to Sears, 6-0, at No. 2 singles before recovering to take the final two sets, 6-2, 7-5. The effort locked up the win for UTEP in the pross.
 
Dibattista fell to Vrsalovic, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 4 singles while Szczepanska went down swinging at No. 5 singles vs. Guerrero, 7-5, 7-6, at No. 5 singles. Telzynska was forced to retire while trailing Cascos, 6-7, 6-1, 5-2, at No. 3 singles.
 
The Miners will take aim at their second win in as many days when they play host to LA Tech in their Conference USA opener at 10 a.m. MT Saturday. The match will be held at the El Paso Tennis Club, and admission is free of charge.
 
Tennis Match Results
Abilene Christian vs UTEP
Mar 01, 2024 at El Paso, Texas
(El Paso Tennis Club)
 
UTEP 4, Abilene Christian 3
Singles competition
1. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) def. Maryjoe Crisologo (ACU) 6-0, 6-4
2. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) def. Olivia Sears (ACU) 0-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Maria Cascos (ACU) def. Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) 6-7, 6-1, 5-2, retired
4. Masha Vrsalovic (ACU) def. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-4, 6-1
5. Andrea Guerrero (ACU) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 7-5, 7-6
6. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) def. Libby Blair (ACU) 6-3, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Zuzanna Szczepanska/Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) def. Olivia Sears/Maryjoe Crisologo (ACU) 6-1
2. Carlotta Mencaglia/Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) def. Masha Vrsalovic/Andrea Guerrero (ACU) 6-4
3. Maria Cascos/Libby Blair (ACU) def. Elena Dibattista/DeCora Antoine (UTEP) 6-1
 
Match Notes:
Abilene Christian 2-5
UTEP 2-8
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,1,4,5,2)
 

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