EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP tennis team was derailed by UC Irvine, 4-0, in blustery conditions at the El Paso Tennis Club on Sunday. The Miners (4-4) were held off by the Anteaters (5-5) in doubles, and then they were unable to rally in singles action. Clinch format was in place.
 
"This was a very painful match. While the conditions were not ideal with the wind and several nagging injuries, we knew it was going to take a lot of focus and concentration," UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "We were not able to bring that today and UC Irvine really wanted it more than us and was willing to fight for it. We did compete well on several courts, but we need everyone to step up in order to get back to winning. We need some time to recover and heal before we get back out on the court. I really hope that we can learn from these last two matches and make the adjustments needed to turn this around. We have a lot of tennis left to play this spring, and I know we can and will do better."
 
Carlotta Mencaglia and Hanna Telzynska were defeated by Kayla Meraz and Amanda Perez, 6-3, at the No. 1 slot. Valeria Carreño Torres and Candice Bernier couldn't quite pull it out while succumbing, 6-4, to Carolyna Fowler and Yen Nhi Huynh at No. 2 doubles. DeCora Antoine and Wendy Zhang's match at No. 3 doubles was halted early.
 
Carreño Torres put up a good fight before eventually being clipped by Haily Hyunh, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 5 singles, which marked her first singles match of the campaign. Paloma Hennicaux was upended by Yen Nhi Huynh, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3 singles. Zhang left it all out on the court before Maily Huynh won via retirement, 7-6, 2-1.
 
Mencaglia was locked up in a good one with Fowler at No. 1 singles (4-6, 6-5) when it was stopped. Bernier was on the verge of going to a third set in her battle with Meraz at No. 2 singles, with the match standing 2-6, 7-5, when it went unfinished. Telzynska was fighting hard, 6-7, 1-2, vs. Perez at No. 4 singles.
 
The Miners are off for the week before competing three times in five days on the road. They are slated to challenge Southern (March 11), Nicholls State (March 13) and New Orleans (March 15).
 
Tennis Match Results
UC Irvine vs UTEP
Mar 02, 2025 at El Paso, Texas
(El Paso Tennis Club)
UC Irvine 4, UTEP 0
 
Singles competition
1. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) vs. Fowler, Carolyna (UCI) 4-6, 6-5, unfinished
2. Candice Bernier (UTEP) vs. Meraz, Kayla (UCI) 2-6, 7-5, unfinished
3. Huynh, Yen Nhi (UCI) def. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) 6-2, 6-0
4. Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) vs. Perez, Amanda (UCI) 6-7, 1-2, unfinished
5. Huynh, Haily (UCI) def. V. Carreño Torres (UTEP) 6-4, 6-3
6. Huynh, Maily (UCI) def. Wendy Zhang (UTEP) 7-6, 2-1, retired
 
Doubles competition
1. Meraz, Kayla/Perez, Amanda (UCI) def. Carlotta Mencaglia/Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) 6-3
2. Fowler, Carolyna/Huynh, Yen Nhi (UCI) def. Candice Bernier/V. Carreño Torres (UTEP) 6-4
3. DeCora Antoine/Wendy Zhang (UTEP) vs. Huynh, Maily/Khayat, Nour (UCI) 4-5, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
UC Irvine 5-5
UTEP 4-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,6,5)
 
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