LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's tennis team continued to excel in 2016-17 on Friday, winning 7-of-9 matches in the opening day of the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.
 
To start the day off, New Mexico State squared off with Northern Arizona in doubles play where they took 2-of-3 matches. Goncalves and Flores notched their fifth-straight victory when they took down NAU's Felix Schumann and David Nguyen 6-3. Sergi Espias and Enrique Asmar followed suit as they cruised past Sebastian Equez and Harun Ajanovic 6-1.
 
After the completion of doubles, Goncalves continued his hot play with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Air Force's Isaac Perez. Espias easily took down his foe in Mack Galvin with a 6-0, 6-1 win at flight No. 3. Mauri Benitez didn't have much trouble in the fourth flight, tallying the 6-1, 6-1 victory over David Mottice.
 
Flores and Asmar also notched victories in flight No. 3 and No. 4, giving NM State wins in 5-of-6 singles matches against Air Force on Friday.
 
Day two of the Balloon Fiesta will resume on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 9 a.m. with doubles play before teams move onto singles action.
 
Balloon Fiesta (Day 1)
Doubles
Goncalves/Flores (NMSU) def. Schumann/Nguyen (NAU) –6-3
Zilbertstein/Fisher (NAU) def. de Haan/Benitez (NMSU) – 7-6
Espias/Asmar (NMSU) def. Equez/Ajanovic (NAU) – 6-1
 
Singles
Christofer Goncalves (NMSU) def. Isaac Perez (AFA) – 6-2, 6-4
Luke Sanderson (AFA) def. Stijn de Haan (NMSU) – 6-4, 1-6, 4-6
Sergi Espias (NMSU) def. Mack Galvin (AFA) – 6-0, 6-1
Mauri Benitez (NMSU) def. David Mottice (AFA) – 6-1, 6-1
Luis Pliego Flores (NMSU) def. Dillon Launius (AFA) – 6-1, 6-4
Enrique Asmar (NMSU) def. Matthew Ghering (AFA) – 6-2, 6-3