The UTEP tennis team will look to put it all together when it takes on host North Texas in the first round of the 2023 C-USA Championships at 11 a.m. MT/12 p.m. CT Thursday.
The Miners (5-13) secured the No. 11 seed and are hoping to spring the upset on the sixth-seeded Mean Green (10-11) to snag their first win at the league’s pinnacle event since 2009.
“The great thing about the conference tournament is that anything can happen, and any team can win on any given day,” UTEP head coach Ivan Fernandez said. “We do play a good North Texas team on Thursday that was nationally ranked in the 60’s earlier in the spring but had suffered some injuries and is close to full strength again. We are motivated to try and extend our postseason tomorrow and will approach this match with no fear. We are up for the challenge.”
Veronika Lebisova and Carlotta Mencaglia, who play at the top of the line-up, have set the tone all year long by sharing for the team lead with 12 overall wins. Senior leader Thassane Abrahim follows with 11. Mencaglia has compiled a squad-best eight triumphs in dual action, followed by Lebisova and Abrahim with seven each.
UTEP has also played well in doubles actions, with the pairings of Abrahim and Lebisova (13-10, 7-7 dual) and Elena Dibattista and Zuzanna Szczepanska (14-11, 8-8 dual) both standing above .500 on the season.
The victor between the squads will advance to challenge third-seeded Rice.
