The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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UTEP
Short-Handed Blazers Fall 6-1 Sunday At UTEP
4/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 5, 2009
EL PASO, Texas -- Paula Alvarez won her match at No. 2 singles Sunday, but she was the lone bright spot for the UAB women's tennis team in a 6-1 loss at UTEP.
The Blazers were playing for the second straight match without their injured top player, Evelien Strijker. With Strijker sidelined, UAB was forced to forfeit the No. 6 singles position as each remaining player moved up a spot in the lineup.
Giorgia Romeo took Strijker's place at No. 1 singles and extended her match to three sets for the second straight day before falling 10-7 in a match tiebreaker to UTEP's Weronika Bloczynska. The Blazers suffered straight-set losses at all three matches from No. 3 through No. 5 singles, though Ceylan Engin was able to force a second-set tiebreaker at the No. 5 position.
Alvarez won the first set of her match in a tiebreaker and then sealed her victory when her opponent, Martina Trierweiler, had to retire.
In doubles action, Romeo and Jenny Cape dropped an 8-1 decision, while Alvarez and Brittany DeFelice lost by the same score. The Blazers forfeited the No. 3 doubles spot because of injuries.
UAB fell to 5-8 with the loss, while UTEP improved to 15-6. The Blazers return to the court Thursday with a road match at Kennesaw State, scheduled for a 1 p.m. (ET) start.
Players Mentioned
