RUSTON, La. – The UTEP tennis team made quick work of Grambling State in a 5-0 neutral-site win on Saturday. It marked the third straight victory for the Miners (9-7), the longest streak vs. DI opposition in four years. UTEP's nine triumphs are the most during the Ivan Fernandez era, and it is the highest total in nine years (11-11). The effort locks up the first winning mark in the regular season since the 2016 dual campaign.
 
"We had to be very focused today and got the job done," Fernandez said. "These matches can be tricky, but we managed to get off the court quickly to be able to get ready for LA Tech tomorrow."
 
Valeria Carreño Torres and Carlotta Mencaglia won by default at No. 3 doubles. Hanna Telzynska and DeCora Antoine smashed Ekaterina Dziova and Emmory Simmons, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles to clinch the doubles point and give the Miners the early lead.
 
Wendy Zhang secured a win via default at No. 6 singles. Mencaglia was flawless in taking out Simmons, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1 singles. Paloma Hennicaux was in top form by blanking Machisa, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 4 singles. Bernier was locked in as well, cruising past Rajic, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 3 singles.
 
Telzynska was leading Dziova, 6-2, 1-0, at No. 2 singles when the match was halted with clinch format in place. It was the same story for Carreño Torres, who was up, 6-1, 5-0, on Mawisire, at No. 5 singles.
 
The Miners will take aim at a perfect weekend in Louisiana when they square off at LA Tech in their regular-season finale at 9 a.m. MT/10 a.m. CT Sunday.
 
Tennis Match Results
Grambling State vs UTEP
April 12, 2025, at Ruston, La.
UTEP 5, Grambling State 0
 
Singles competition
1. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) def. Emmory Simmons (GSU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Hanna Telzynska (UTEP) vs. Ekaterina Dziova (GSU) 6-2, 1-0, unfinished
3. Candice Bernier (UTEP) def. Sofija Rajic (GSU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) def. Claire Machisa (GSU) 6-0, 6-0
5. V. Carreño Torres (UTEP) vs. Takudzwa Mawisire (GSU) 6-1, 5-0, unfinished
6. Wendy Zhang (UTEP) def. No player (GSU), by default
 
Doubles competition
1. Hanna Telzynska/DeCora Antoine (UTEP) def. Ekaterina Dziova/Emmory Simmons (GSU) 6-1
2. Candice Bernier/Wendy Zhang (UTEP) vs. Sofija Rajic/Claire Machisa (GSU) 3-3, unfinished
3. V. Carreño Torres/Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) def. No player/No player (GSU), by default
 
Match Notes:
Grambling State 3-11
UTEP 9-7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,3,4,1)
 
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