Editor’s Note: This is not the most recent UTEP tennis match.
UTEP tennis stepped up against Western Kentucky University (WKU) in a match that would be the fall of the Miners. Although the score would be 4-1, junior Paloma Hennicaux made a victory in straight sets. This is Hennicaux’s third singles match win in a row.
This halted UTEP’s two-match winning streak (6-5, 0-2 Conference USA). There were many highlights of the full game including senior Carlotta Mencaglia, who was just named CUSA Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week. Mencaglia had 7-6, 3-3 against WKU senior Rachel Hermanova, but was stopped.
This was also the same for sophomore Hanna Telzynska who went against WKU sophomore Mia Miranda in the No. 3 singles match. However, their match was halted as well.
UTEP head tennis coach, Ivan Fernandez, spoke about Hennicaux’s game performance and overall, what’s needed from the team moving forward.
“In the singles we fought hard where we could. Palo played very solid and she got the win,” Fernandez said. “Our energy wasn’t there in the doubles at all and it showed in the scores, Lotti and Hanna were both up in their singles matches but with these medical issues we are dealing with, we need to play perfectly to win in these situations. Today just wasn’t our day, but we will bounce back.”
Doubles did not turn out as intended for the Miners as Mencaglia and Telzynska were defeated early by WKU sophomores Emily Schut and Miranda, 6-0. Sophomore Decora Antoine and Hennicaux also petered out with 6-1 against WKU’s Sunskrithi Damera and senior Mariana Zegada at No. 3 doubles. Singles started strong but slowed down as they went on for the Miners. Hennicaux paved a hopeful beginning, but junior Candice Bernier fell to senior Sofia Blanco. Sophomore Valeria Correno Torres made her best effort against Zegada and Antione gave it her all but fell to Schut 6-1, 6-3.
The Miners are back on the road, with their earliest match against Middle Tennessee.
Catching Marginot is a contributor and can be reached at [email protected].
