LAS CRUCES – The NM State women's tennis team is set to begin its four-match homestand this Saturday, Feb. 20, at the NMSU Tennis Center with Abilene Christina at 10 a.m. (MT). Admission is free for all fans in attendance.
 
SHRIVASTAVA TABBED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior women's tennis player Ashvarya Shrivastav was named this week's Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week. This is the first weekly honor for the senior this season.
 
Shrivastav, a senior from Pune, India, wrapped up the sweep of Pima CC for the Aggies with a 6-1, 6-1 defeat of Kelsey Brown at the No. 1 singles position. Brown was ranked No. 19 in the junior college rankings according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
 
Against No. 58 Arizona, Shrivastav managed to get three games in each set of her loss to Lauren Marker – who was ranked No. 39 in singles play.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Abilene Christian heads into Saturday's match 6-4 on the year, with all four losses coming on the road. Its lone victory on the road came against Butler, a 7-0 decision in favor of the Wildcats. Of ACU's remaining five victories, two come at home while the other three have come in neutral site matches.
 
Abilene Christian had won two straight against UTSA (4-3) and St. Edwards (7-0) before it fell to No. 16 Texas A&M, 7-0.
 
Nada Marjanovic currently paces the Wildcats in singles play with a 9-2 overall record and 8-1 mark in dual play. Marjanovic primarily plays at the No. 5 slot, but is 3-1 so far at the No. 3 position. Lucile Pothier (6-6) and Erin Walker (6-5) each have six wins while Whitney Williams (5-4) and Kaysie Hermsdorf (5-7) each have five wins in singles action.
 
The Wildcats are most successful at the No. 4 singles position, where they are currently 8-1. ACU's next best performance comes from court No. 3 at 6-4.
 
In doubles play, Hermsdorf and Pothier teamed up for an 8-5 mark and 5-4 record in dual play. The pair is 2-0 at No. 1 doubles and 3-4 at the No. 2 doubles slot. The tandem of Erin Walker and Whitney Williams is 6-4 overall in doubles and 4-3 in dual action. The two are 3-3 when playing on court No. 1 and 1-0 when playing at the No. 2 position for ACU.
 
LAST TIME OUT
New Mexico State returned from its road trip to Tucson, Ariz., last week with a 2-3 record after splitting its two matches. The Aggies opened with a, 7-0, blanking of Pima CC on Feb. 12 before facing off against the host, No. 58 Arizona. NM State was overmatched by UA the next day and saw its two-match win-streak snapped, falling 7-0 to the Wildcats.