EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP tennis team will hit the courts for the first time this fall by heading up I-10 to compete in the NM State Invite from Friday through Sunday. The Miners will play in five events during the fall portion of the campaign, including hosting the UTEP Invitational (Nov. 1-3).
UTEP returns six individuals from last year's team that compiled seven wins, including outclassing NM State, 4-3, on "Senior Day," and besting Sam Houston State, 4-0, to pick up its first victory at the Conference USA Championships since 2009.
"After a couple of weeks of practice, we are ready for some competition," UTEP head coach
Ivan Fernandez said. "It's always exciting to begin a new year. The team has really come together and worked hard these last few weeks. We are ready to get back out there and see what this team looks like in competition."
The Miners will join the host Aggies, Abilene Christian and Western New Mexico in the field, which will be contested in hidden dual format. Play will commence with doubles daily at 9 a.m. Singles will follow immediately after.
UTEP has a pair of seniors (
Carlotta Mencaglia and
Zuzanna Szczepanska) back in the fold for the 2024-25 season.
Paloma Hennicaux (junior) and sophomores DeCora Antone,
Hanna Telzynska and Valeria Carreño Torres all return as well.
Mencaglia and Telzynska enjoyed a banner year in 2023-24 by earning a spot on the All-CUSA second team for doubles. It marked the first Miner duo to be so distinguished in doubles since 2001, with the pair forging a record of 19-13, including 13-6 in dual (1-0 No. 1, 12-6, No. 2), and 4-0 within CUSA matches. Individually, Telzynska led the Orange and Blue in singles (14), doubles (21) and combined (35) wins on the way to becoming the initial Miner to land on the CUSA All-Freshman team (first awarded in 2017).
Junior transfers
Candice Bernier (NC Central) and
Wendy Zhang (Eastern Michigan) round out the roster, with each bringing vital DI playing experience. Bernier was an All-MEAC recipient in both years while competing in the upper echelon of the lineup. Zhang was a two-year letterwinner for the Eagles who helped the team record 18 triumphs in that timeframe.
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