RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech tennis team needed just two hours to take down Conference USA foe UTEP, winning its ninth straight match by a final score of 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
LA Tech (17-4, 2-0 C-USA) wasted no time in setting the tone in its second league match of the season, grabbing the opening doubles point with convincing wins on courts two and three.
 
First, it was the duo of Leonie Schuknecht and Ilana Tetruashvili who won six straight games in just 20 minutes to take it, 6-0, on court three.  The first point was then secured by the tandem of Olga Bienzobas and Alexia Romero who notched a 6-2 victory on court two.
 
Singles was much the same as the Lady Techsters claimed the opening set on all six courts. Bienzobas was the most dominant, giving LA Tech a quick 2-0 advantage with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Carlotta Mencaglia at the No. 2 position.
 
Schuknecht provided the third point, defeating Veronika Lebisova by a score of 6-0, 7-5 at the No. 1 spot.  The front-end of the lineup made it a clean sweep as Najah Dawson took care of Zuzanna Szczepanska 6-4, 6-3 to clinch the shutout over UTEP (4-11, 1-2 C-USA).
 
The remaining three courts were stopped.  Tiffani Nash battled back from down 1-5 to win six straight games and take the first set, 7-5, on court four.  Ana Rodrigues cruised to a 6-1 first set and was at 3-all in the second on court five.  And Romero won three straight games after being down 4-5 to win the first set, 7-5.  She was up 3-2 in the second.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amanda Stone
 
"Really proud of the team for their performance today.  The double was solid, but three doubles were just on another level today.  In singles, we looked strong up and down the lineup.  We could have easily come out sloppy today, but we were locked in and sharp from start to finish."
 
NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech and UTEP are now tied in the all-time series, 3-3. The Lady Techsters have won three straight over the Miners.
• LA Tech recorded its 17th win of the spring, tied for the third most in program history.
• LA Tech picked up its ninth straight victory, tied for the fourth longest in program history.
• LA Tech extended its home winning streak to 11, the second longest in program history.
• Leonie Schuknecht improved to 14-2 in dual singles and 22-5 overall.
• Both Olga Bienzobas and Najah Dawson claimed their 13th dual singles win.
• Ilana Tetruashvili and Leonie Schuknecht improved to 4-0 in dual doubles together this spring.
• Olga Bienzobas and Alexia Romero teamed up for their third straight doubles win.
• Leonie Schuknecht (7th most), Ilana Tetruashvili (9th most), and Alexia Romero (10th most) are now all in the top 10 in program history in dual doubles wins.
• Najah Dawson provided the clinching point for the fourth time this spring.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will be back in action on Thursday, April 13 to take on crosstown foe Grambling State in a doubleheader.  First serve is set for 3 p.m. CT.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in LA Tech Tennis, follow them on Twitter (@LATechTennis), Instagram (@LATechTennis), and Facebook (LATechTennis).