MIAMI – The No. 9 seed UTEP tennis team (7-15) was upended by host, top seed and No. 27 nationally FIU, 4-0, in the quarterfinals of the of 2024 Conference USA Women's Tennis Championships Friday.
 
The Miners had picked up their first win at the event since 2009 after dispatching Sam Houston, 4-0, Thursday, but they couldn't get past the defending champion Panthers (17-2). FIU advances to the semifinals on the strength of its 16th consecutive triumph while also staying undefeated at home (13-0).
 
Clinch format was used per postseason format.
 
"We fought hard today against a very tough FIU team," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "They have been consistently ranked in the top 30 in the nation this year, and it showed against us today. We had a tough time getting going in the doubles. In the singles Zu won the first set and was up in the second set. Palo was up in her first set tie breaker when the match was clinched. On the other courts we did our best but were just outplayed."
 
Action commenced in doubles where the Panthers took the point. Veronika Lebisova and Zuzanna Szczepanska fell to No. 53 Oyinlomo Quadre and Katerina Mandelikova, 6-0, at the No. 1 spot. Carlotta Mencaglia and Hanna Telzynska were tripped up by Ekaterina Khairutdinova and Salma Loudili, 6-0, at No. 2 doubles. Elena Dibattista and DeCora Antoine were locked up in a close match with Valery Gynina and Petja Drame, trailing 3-2, when it went unfinished at No. 3 doubles.
 
UTEP looked to regroup in singles, but it was unable to get on track. Mencaglia went down swinging to No. 53 Quadre, 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Telzynska was clipped by Mandelikova, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 4 singles. Dibattista fell to Gynina, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 3 singles, clinching the match for FIU.
 
Szczepanska was leading Loudili, 6-1, 3-2, at No. 5 singles when it was stopped. Paloma Hennicaux was ahead in the first set tiebreaker with Drame at No. 6 singles before it was halted. Lebisova was trailing Khairutdinova, 6-3, 4-0, when it went unfinished at No. 1 singles.
 
UTEP concludes the 2023-24 campaign having won two of its final three matches, with a thrilling 4-3 victory against I-10 rival NM State on "Senior Day" on April 14 before dispatching the Bearkats on April 18. Seniors Lebisova and Dibattista will depart UTEP having combined for nearly 175 combined victories in singles and doubles. They also have helped the Miners produce the top GPA among CUSA women's tennis programs in back-to-back years.
 
"I saw a lot of positives this season and this group did everything that I asked of them," Fernandez said. "I could not be more proud of the effort and heart that we played with this season. I want to thank Vero and Ele for their four years here at UTEP and wish them all the best in the future. They will be missed but they will always be part of the UTEP tennis family."
 
UTEP vs FIU
04/19/2024 at Miami, Fla.
(PayCargo Tennis Center)
#27 FIU 4, UTEP 0
 
Singles competition
1. E. Khairutdinova (FIU) vs. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 6-3, 4-0, unfinished
2. Oyinlomo Quadre (FIU) def. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) 6-3, 6-1
3. Valery Gynina (FIU) def. Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-0, 6-1
4. Katerina Mandelikova (FIU) def. Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) 6-1, 6-0
5. Salma Loudili (FIU) vs. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 1-6, 2-3, unfinished
6. Petja Drame (FIU) vs. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) 6-6, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Oyinlomo Quadre/Katerina Mandelikova (FIU) def. Veronika Lebisova/Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 6-0
2. E. Khairutdinova/Salma Loudili (FIU) def. Carlotta Mencaglia/Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) 6-0
3. Valery Gynina/Petja Drame (FIU) vs. Elena Dibattista/DeCora Antoine (UTEP) 3-2, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,2,3)
Conference USA Women's Tennis Championships Match #2
 

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