JACKSONVILLE, FLA.- The UTEP tennis team ran into a buzzsaw in the form of North Florida and fell, 6-0, on the road in windy and unseasonably chilly conditions for the “Sunshine State” Saturday afternoon.
The start of the match was delayed for several hours due to high winds and rain, and when action ultimately resumed at the UNF Tennis Complex, only singles matches were played as result.
Freshman Dariya Abdrakhmanova turned in the best effort for the Orange and Blue, but she was unable to convert it into the win column. Squaring off against Raquel Castro at No. 2 singles, the native of Samara, Russia, was dispatched, 6-4, 6-3.
Fellow newcomer Alexandra Glebova locked up with Victoria Krook at No. 4 singles. Glebova battled hard in the initial set only to come up shy, 6-3. Krook was a bit sharper in the decisive set, evidenced by the score of 6-1 in her favor.
Martina Trierweiler vied to derail Aline Berkenbrock at No. 1 singles but it was not to be. The sophomore was tripped up, 6-1, 6-0.
An illness besieged Marina DeLuca, and caused her to retired from her match early on against Danielle Day at No. 3 singles. Junior Ximena Fuentes challenged Melanie Aguirre and couldn’t get on track in a taxing 6-1, 6-2 setback.
Freshman Veronika Makashov faced Lauren Holton at No. 6 singles, and was saddled with a loss by a count of 6-0, 6-0.
Austin Lavallii took on Heather St. John in an exhibition match, which did not finish as result of the weather. Lavallii took the first set, 6-3. She trailed, though, 4-2, in the second set when it was halted.
UTEP will take aim at its initial dual-match win of the 2010 season when it faces Jacksonville at 7 a.m. MT on Sunday.
Singles Results
1. Aline Berkenbrock (UNF) def. Martina Trierweiler (UTEP) 6-1, 6-0
2. Raquel Castro (UNF) def. Dariya Abdrakhmanova (UTEP) 6-4, 6-3
3. Danielle Day (UNF) def. Marina DeLuca (UTEP) 3-0, retired
4. Victoria Krook (UNF) def. Alexandra Glebova (UTEP) 6-3, 6-1
5. Melanie Aguirre (UNF) def. Ximena Fuentes (UTEP) 6-1, 6-2
6. Lauren Holton (UNF) def. Veronika Makashov (UTEP) 6-0, 6-0
