UTEP Tennis picked up singles wins from Elena Dibattista, Veronika Lebisova and Zuzanna Szczepanska in a narrow 4-3 setback to UIW on a crisp day at the El Paso Tennis Club Friday.
via UTEP Athletics
The Cardinals (5-2) took the early lead after a highly-contested doubles competition before holding off the Miners’ (2-6) furious rally in singles play.
It marked the second setback of the 4-3 variety at home for the Orange and Blue, who continue to be extremely competitive.
“We lost 4-3, and this one hurts,” UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. “While we competed better than we have so far this season, we again came up short. This was the first time we were close in every match. We are so close to turning this around, but we just haven’t been able to put it together. We got good wins from Vero (Lebisova), Zu (Szczepanska) and Ele (Dibattista). We just need to find that fourth point.”
The match began in doubles where it went back and forth at each of the courts. Thassane Abrahim and Lebisova went down swinging, 7-5, at No. 1 doubles to Brandelyn Fulgenzi and Estefania Gonzalez. Szczepanska and Dibattista were held off, 6-4, by Nitika Girish and Lyric Bonilla at No. 3 doubles. The match at No. 2 doubles went unfinished with the doubles point decided.
Lebisova took down Bonilla, 7-6, 6-4, at No. 2 singles in a decisive win in straight sets. Szczepanska followed suit by blasting Montalvo, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 4 singles. Dibattista also cruised in straight sets, drilling Girish, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 6 singles.
Abrahim put up quite a fight before succumbing, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, to Pawar at No. 3 singles. Reigning Conference USA Player of the Week Mencaglia had her two-match winning streak halted in a 6-4, 6-3, defeat by Fulgenzi at the top spot. Daniels was dispatched, 6-2, 7-6, at No. 5 singles by Sophia Kermet.
The Orange and Blue will look to get back on track when they lock up with Northern Arizona at 10 a.m. MT Saturday. The match will be held at the El Paso Tennis Club, and admission is free.
Incarnate Word vs UTEP
Feb 17, 2023 at El Paso, Texas
(El Paso Tennis Club)
Incarnate Word 4, UTEP 3
Singles competition
- Brandelyn Fulgenzi (UIW) def. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) 6-4, 6-3
- Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) def. Lyric Bonilla (UIW) 7-6, 6-4
- Gargi Pawar (UIW) def. Thassane Abrahim (UTEP) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
- Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) def. Amelie Montalvo (UIW) 6-1, 6-4
- Sophia Kermet (UIW) def. Eve Daniels (UTEP) 6-2, 7-6
- Elena Dibattista (UTEP) def. Nitika Girish (UIW) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
- Brandelyn Fulgenzi/Estefania Gonzalez (UIW) def. Thassane Abrahim/Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 7-5
- Amelie Montalvo/Gargi Pawar (UIW) vs. Eve Daniels/Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) no result
- Nitika Girish/Lyric Bonilla (UIW) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska/Elena Dibattista (UTEP) 6-4
Match Notes:
Incarnate Word 5-2
UTEP 2-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,6,4,2,3,5)
