ABILENE, Texas – The UTEP tennis team shined in doubles action by winning five of six matches on the opening day of play of the ACU Invitational Friday.
 
The respective pairings of Zuzanna Szczepanska and Candice Bernier and Paloma Hennicaux and Valeria Carreño Torres advanced to the finals of their draw by going 2-0. Hennicaux also took care of business in singles with a win in straight sets to put together a perfect mark on the day. The duo of Carlotta Mencaglia and Hanna Telzynska tasted victory with a win in the back draw.
 
"We got off to a slow start this morning by only winning one of six singles matches but came back strong in the afternoon to win five of six in doubles," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "So, we were 6-6 on the day in a very strong tournament. We always struggle a bit the first day when we go down in altitude, but we will adjust and play better tomorrow. We have two doubles teams in their respective draw's championship match tomorrow. It was great to see everyone keep fighting to make it an over solid day, and we hope to improve again tomorrow."
 
Szczepanska and Bernier outlasted Noelia Lorca and Emma Persson (Tarleton State), 6-4, in the quarterfinals of their flight. The tandem then secured a spot in the finals by taking down Callie Creath and Chantajah Mills (Texas State), 6-4.
 
Hennicaux and Carreño Torres followed suit with two triumphs to punch a ticket to the championship contest in their flight. They downed Duru Kuscu and Adeliya Mukhutdinova (Tarleton State), 6-4. In the ensuing match the pairing knocked off Whitney Moon and Nadia Nemeth (NM State), 6-4.
 
Mencaglia and Telzynska were clipped by Maria Lora and Sofia Fortuno (Texas State), 6-3. The duo found redemption by blasting Masha Vrsalovic and Angela Del Campo (ACU), 6-2, in the back draw.
 
Hennicaux smashed Dora Kurdi (NM State), 6-2, 6-3, to roll into the semifinals of her flight. She took control early against the foe from the I-10 rival and never let her foot off the gas on the way to staying undefeated (4-0) in singles play on the season.
 
Mencaglia went toe-to-toe with Maria Cascos (ACU) in an eventual narrow 6-3, 4-6, 10-8, setback. Szczepanska put up a good fight before succumbing to Mariia Hlahola (Texas Tech), 7-6, 6-3. Bernier was upended by Millie Skelton (SMU), 6-0, 6-4.
 
Telzynska was bounced by Del Campo (ACU), 6-3, 6-1 while Wendy Zhang came up short vs. Clara Sobrius (Tarleton State), 6-4, 6-1.
 
UTEP will vie to bring home a pair of flight titles in doubles play while continuing competition at the ACU Invite Saturday.
 
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