Carolina DeLuca, Marina DeLuca and Alexandra Glebova all picked up wins but visiting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi escaped with a 4-3 triumph in the UTEP tennis team’s home opener at the El Paso Tennis Club Thursday afternoon.
“This is the best we have competed in singles,” UTEP head coach Jamie Campbell said. “We came out a bit flat in doubles but really rebounded with energy in singles. We fought and showed the will to win. We are moving in the right direction. We just have to keep the progression going on Saturday.”
The Miners (0-4) were a bit sluggish at the onset of the contest, which allowed the Islanders (2-1) to pick up the doubles point. Mirna Cicak/Megan Harless trumped UTEP’s Martina Trierweiler/Carolina DeLuca, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles.
Marina DeLuca/Ximena Fuentes returned the favor by derailing Bianca Discordia/Leanne Mascall, 8-4, at No. 2 doubles.
The No. 3 doubles match also went final at 8-4, but in a bit of misfortune for the Orange and Blue, it was Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s tandem of Nadia Filmater/Doris Kuselj which was on top. Glebova/ Dariya Abdrakhmanova fought hard but couldn’t quite it done.
Faced with a 1-0 deficit heading into singles action, the Miners regrouped in an effort to post a come-from-behind victory.
Marina DeLuca did her part with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 dismantling of Adrienne Kovacs at No. 4 singles. Glebova was even more impressive, trouncing Filmater by a count of 6-1, 6-1, at No. 5 singles.
Carolina DeLuca rounded out the Orange and Blue victors, with an inspiring three-set triumph. The sophomore was stricken with a 6-2 loss in the first set against Discordia, but she would make that a distant memory. DeLuca took the second set, 6-3, and then got it done in the decisive set (6-4).
The Islanders, however, would hold on for the team win, despite the efforts of Trierweiler, Abdrakhmanova and Fuentes.
Fuentes’ setback was the most gut-wrenching, with the junior racing to a 6-3 victory in the first set against Mascall at No. 6 singles. The final two sets were closely contested, but both went to Mascall (6-4, 6-3).
The freshman and native of Russia, Abdrakhmanova, pushed Kuselj to the brink in the initial set at No. 2 singles but came up just shy, 7-5. In the second set things weren’t as close, with Kuselj downing the UTEP player 6-1.
Trierweiler and Cicak were evenly matched from the onset of their contest at No. 1 singles. The sophomore showed plenty of heart only to fall, 7-5, 7-5.
UTEP will be back in action with a pair of matches on Saturday. The Miners will lock up with Illinois State at 9 a.m. MT before challenging Sam Houston State at 2 p.m. MT. The busy weekend will wrap up when UTEP plays host to Arkansas State at 9 a.m. MT on Sunday.
Singles results
1. Mirna Cicak (TXAMUCC) def. Martina Trierweiler (UTEP) 7-5, 7-5
2. Doris Kuselj (TXAMUCC) def. Dariya Abdrakhmanova (UTEP) 7-5, 6-1
3. Carolina DeLuca (UTEP) def. Bianca Discordia (TXAMUCC) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Marina DeLuca (UTEP) def. Adrienne Kovacs (TXAMUCC) 6-1, 6-3
5. Alexandra Glebova (UTEP) def. Nadia Filmater (TXAMUCC) 6-1, 6-1
6. Leanne Mascall (TXAMUCC) def. Ximena Fuentes (UTEP) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Doubles results
1. Mirna Cicak/Megan Harless (TXAMUCC) def. Martina Trierweiler/Carolina DeLuca (UTEP) 8-4
2. Marina DeLuca/Ximena Fuentes (UTEP) def. Bianca Discordia/Leanne Mascall (TXAMUCC) 8-4
3. Nadia Filmater/Doris Kuselj (TXAMUCC) def. Alexandra Glebova/Dariya Abdrakhmanova (UTEP) 8-4
