THIBODAUX, La. – The UTEP tennis team fell behind, 3-0, to Nicholls State before victories from Valeria Carreño Torres, Paloma Hennicaux, Carlotta Mencaglia and Hanna Telzynska powered the Miners to a 4-3 come-from-behind win at Nicholls State Thursday.
 
It is the second straight victory for the Miners (6-4), both of which have been on the road. UTEP bested Southern, 4-0, on March 11 before storming back against the Colonels (2-5). The Orange and Blue hadn't posted consecutive road triumphs against DI opposition in nine years. That season, UTEP defeated NM State (4-3, March 5, 2016) and FAU (4-3, March 8) in succession.
 
"We got off to a slow start losing the doubles point then going down 0-3 in the match before coming back to win all four remaining singles matches," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "I am so proud of how hard these girls fought today. It was a battle of wills, and we wanted it more. This was a great team effort today. This team is showing so much heart especially with everything we are having to deal with. They really left everything out on the court today."
 
The home side came out quickly, claiming contests on courts No. 1 and No. 3, respectively to secure the doubles point and the early lead in the match. Candice Bernier and Carreño Torres took out Julia Bordiginon and Amalie Grube Anderse, 7-5, at No. 2 doubles, but it wasn't enough. Hennicaux and DeCora Antoine were clipped by Sophia Sara Safarova and Constanza Cruz, 7-6, at the third slot. Mencaglia and Telzynska were upended against Aada Inna and Paulia Villegas, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles.
 
UTEP dug deep to show its resolve in singles. Blanca Losada bested Antone, 6-2, 6-2, at Np. 6 singles. Villegas snuck past Bernier, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 2 singles while also putting the Colonels on verge of clinching the match. The Miners didn't quit, though, as they won the remaining four singles matches to pull out the triumph.
 
Carreño Torres got it going with a 6-3, 6-1, vanquishing of Grube Anderse at No. 5 singles. Hennicaux took out Bordiginon, 6-2, 7-6, at No. 4 singles. Mencaglia then used all she had in a three-set victory (6-2, 3-6, 6-2) vs. Inna at the top slot.Telzynska sealed the match with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, win against Noemie Piquet at No. 3 singles to complete the comeback for the Orange and Blue.
 
The Miners will have a chance make it a perfect 3-0 in their week in the state of Louisiana when they lock up at New Orleans at 11 a.m. MT/12 p.m. CT Saturday. If UTEP can take out the Privateers, it would be the longest road winning streak vs. DI foes since 2014-15 (March 12-April 11). What would distinguish the efforts by this season's squad is that it would have occurred in the span of five days.
 
Tennis Match Results
UTEP vs Nicholls State
Mar 13, 2025 at Thibodaux, La.
UTEP 4, Nicholls State 3
 
Singles competition
1. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) def. Aada Inna (NICHST) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
2. Paulia Villegas (NICHST) def. Candice Bernier (UTEP) 6-3, 6-1
3. Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) def. Noemie Piquet (NICHST) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
4. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) def. Julia Bordiginon (NICHST) 6-2, 7-6
5. V. Carreño Torres (UTEP) def. Amalie Grube Anderse (NICHST) 6-3, 6-1
6. Blanca Losada (NICHST) def. DeCora Antoine (UTEP) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Aada Inna/Paulia Villegas (NICHST) def. Carlotta Mencaglia/Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) 6-3
2. Candice Bernier/V. Carreño Torres (UTEP) def. Julia Bordiginon/Amalie Grube Anderse (NICHST) 7-5
3. Sophia Sara Safarova/Constanza Cruz (NICHST) def. Paloma Hennicaux/DeCora Antoine (UTEP) 7-6
 
Match Notes:
UTEP 6-4
Nicholls State 2-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,2,5,4,1,3)
 
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