Tag Archives: Kirsten Prelle

DALLAS– UTEP freshman standout Kirsten Prelle has been recognized as an All-Conference USA Singles second-team honoree, the league office announced Friday. She is the first Miner to be an all-league recipient since 2016 (Vivienne Kulicke)

“I am extremely proud of Kirsten,” UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. “She showed tremendous maturity this year, playing No. 1 the entire spring as a freshman. It is great that coaches in C-USA also recognized her success this year by awarding her an All-Conference award. She certainly earned it.”

Prelle enjoyed a stellar first season with the Orange and Blue, pacing the team in overall victories (22-8) and dual-match wins (13-5). Her overall winning percentage (.733) ties for eighth in the UTEP record books while the 22 wins is just shy of the top 10. She also shared the squad lead for individual doubles triumphs (17-7), and competed at No 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for UTEP.

Prelle won her final five singles matches of the seasons, including a 6-3, 6-3, result in the C-USA Championships against Maryna Veksler (FIU). She was often dominant, securing 17 singles wins via straight sets. Prelle forged a 9-3 mark in the fall, aided by winning the singles championship at the NM State Aggie Invite. The effort made her the first Miner freshman to claim a fall flight title since Rebeca Calvillo in 2010.

Her efforts helped the Miners win the first league match in three seasons, rally from a 3-0 deficit to best Boise State and finish with a mark of 5-2 at home.

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SAN DIEGO, Ca. – Freshman Kirsten Prelle picked up her sixth consecutive singles win while also securing a spot in the finals with a thrilling three-set victory to lead the way for the UTEP tennis team on the second day of the San Diego State University Fall Classic Saturday.

Prelle started strong by taking the first set against Jolene Coetzee (Cal State Northridge), 6-1. Coetzee struck back to secure the second set, 6-2. Prelle regrouped and found another gear to win the final set and the match, 6-1. She will lock up with Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) in the finals on Sunday.

“I wish that we had competed a little bit better in doubles, but again this is a work in progress,” UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez. “As long as they fight and support each other, I know that the results will come.”

Sophomore Erandi Martinez showed off her mettle by rallying for a three-set triumph, 0-6, 7-5, 6-3, against Agustina Rimoldi Godoy (SDSU) in the consolation round. Freshman Rine Nozaki also regained her winning ways in the back draw, dropping Lauren Anderson (SDSU), 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Valdez was upended, 6-3, 6-2, by Emilia Occhipinti (Grand Canyon). Milena Baigorria fell, 6-1, 6-1, to Ludovica Infantino (Grand Canyon).

In doubles play Baigorria/Nozaki were downed, 6-3, by Lauren Anderson/ Ellie Ashley (SDSU). Prelle/Valdez were dispatched in a close call, 7-6 (4), by TJ Fumagalli/Kristin Kerrigan (Air Force). The duo will vie for third place on Sunday.

The Miners will wrap up the tournament on Sunday.

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LAS CRUCES – Kirsten Prelle and Vanessa Valdez punched a ticket to the championship round in doubles play while Prelle did so in singles action on a quality second day of competition for the UTEP tennis team at the NM State Aggie Invite Saturday.

“It was a solid showing today in both singles and doubles,” UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. “Kirsten (Prelle) and Vanessa (Valdez) were very solid in doubles and singles today. Having a Miner in both the singles and doubles finals shows that the hard work we are putting in at practice is paying off. Regardless of the results we are getting better with every match. I’m very proud of this Miner team.”

Prelle/Valdez ousted Rebecca Keijzerwaard/Bhargavi Kalaga (NM State), 6-3, 7-5, in the semifinals. It marked the duo’s third consecutive win at the event. The tandem will face Lindsay Harlas/Harsha Challa (NM State) in the finals on Sunday.
Rine Nozaki/Erandi Martinez played well only to fall in a close contest, 6-4, 3-6, 10-3, at the hands of Yadira Rubio/Neus Torregrosa (NM State).

Prelle, a freshman, impressed by sinking senior and the No. 1 player for New Mexico (Ruth Copas), 5-7, 6-3, 10-6. For an encore she took down the No. 1 player from homestanding NM State (Keijzerwaard), 6-2, 6-0, to advance to the finals on Sunday.

Nozaki dispatched Madison Hoelting (UTPB) in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. In the ensuing round she was bounced by Chloe Gavino (NM State), 6-1, 6-1.

Valdez toppled Carolina Torrico (WNMU), 6-2, 6-2. She won by default over Neus Torregrosa (NM State) to reach the finals of the consolations.

Martinez fell to Bhargavi Kalaga (NM State), 6-3, 6-0. She regrouped nicely with a 6-3, 6-2, triumph vs. Sabrina Sanchez Chavez (Mesa Community College).

UTEP will wrap up the event on Sunday.

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Sophomores Erandi Martinez and Milena Baigorria as well as newcomers Kirsten Prelle and Vanessa Valdez will represent the UTEP tennis team in its opening tournament of the fall campaign by partaking in the Midland Racquet Club Intercollegiate Invitational Friday through Sunday.

UTEP will be competing alongside the likes of Penn State, Texas Tech, Arizona, Utah State, UT Arlington, UAB, Abilene Christian and Tyler Jr. College. It will be the first of five fall tournaments for the Miners, who will also take part in the NM State Aggie Invite (Sept. 21-23), the San Diego State University Invitational (Sept. 28-30), the ITA Mountain Regional Tournament (Oct. 10-14) and the GCU Invitational (Nov. 2-4).

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to take four players to this tournament that has a longstanding history of great participants,” UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. “Erandi Martinez, Vanessa Valdez, Kirsten Prelle and Milena Baigorria will be making the trip with me and will be making the trip with me. It is great to finally get to see them compete after a couple of weeks of practice.

“The team has been working very hard to prepare for this tournament. I am looking forward to watching them compete against players from these established programs. This will give us a good idea of how we compare to them and how much more we need to work to build the successful UTEP tennis program that we aspire to be.”

Martinez paced the Miners in 2017-18 with a 20-10 overall singles record in her collegiate debut year, playing primarily the No. 3 position. Baigorria posted five total wins last year, including coming on strong in the spring by going 4-1 in dual-match play.

Valdez is a transfer from NM State, who thrived under Fernandez during the 2016-17 season. She was a first-team All-WAC performer after pacing the Aggies in singles victories (16). She will have two years of eligibility with the Orange and Blue.

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