EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP tennis team (5-14, 0-4 CUSA) was upended by Liberty (14-5, 4-0 CUSA), 4-0, at the El Paso Tennis Club Friday.
 
The Miners picked up a win in doubles from the tandem of Carlotta Mencaglia and Hanna Telzynska at the No. 2 position, but the Flames managed to secure the team point. UTEP battled in singles but was unable to put together a rally.
 
"This was a very strong, loud and energetic Liberty team," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "We felt the pressure of their tennis and couldn't do enough to make it go our way. We are still playing our way back from these injuries, but we will be ready for Sunday."
 
Mencaglia and Telzynska cruised to a 6-3 win against Maria Turchetto and Sadie Daavettila at No. 2 doubles. The effort improves the pair to 18-12 on the year, including a stout 12-5 within dual play. Liberty picked up victories on the other courts, however, staking the early lead. Veronika Lebisova and Zuzanna Szczepanska fell to M. Juliana P. Romero and Tiffany Nguyen, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles. Elena Dibattista and DeCora Antoine were clipped by Marina Davtyan and Esther Lovato, 6-1, at No. 3 doubles.
 
Szczepanska was held off by Maria Turchetto, 6-4, 6-0, at No. 6 singles. Telzynska was denied a perfect day in a 6-0, 6-3, setback at the hands of Davtyan at No. 4 singles. Dibattista fell to Lovato, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 3 singles.
 
The other three matches went unfinished with the team outcome already having been decided.
 
UTEP will conclude the regular season by playing host to I-10 rival and first-year CUSA member NM State at 12 p.m. MT Sunday. It will be "Senior Day," with a post-match ceremony set for Dibattista and Lebisova. The contest will be held at the El Paso Tennis Club and admission is free of charge.
 
Tennis Match Results
Liberty vs UTEP
Apr 12, 2024, at El Paso, Texas
(El Paso Tennis Club)
Liberty 4, UTEP 0
 
Singles competition
1. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) vs. M. Juliana P. Romero (LIBERTYW) 4-6, 1-4, unfinished
2. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) vs. Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) 6-3, 5-5, unfinished
3. Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-1, 6-2
4. Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) def. Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) 6-0, 6-3
5. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) vs. Daniella O'Neill (LIBERTYW) 3-6, 2-5, unfinished
6. Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 6-4, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. M. Juliana P. Romero/Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) def. Veronika Lebisova/Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 6-2
2. Carlotta Mencaglia/Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) def. Maria Turchetto/Sadie Daavettila (LIBERTYW) 6-3
3. Marina Davtyan/Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. Elena Dibattista/DeCora Antoine (UTEP) 6-1
 
Match Notes:
Liberty 14-5, 4-0 CUSA
UTEP 5-14, 0-4 CUSA
 
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