LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Head women's tennis coach Ivan Fernandez announced the signing of Vanessa Casas and Rebecca Keijzerwaar to play at New Mexico State for the 2016-17 season Thursday afternoon. Casas will join NM State from Mexico while Keijzerwaard hails from the Netherlands.
 
"I am very excited to sign not just two very strong players, but also two great people," Fernandez said. "I always look for players that will represent NM State Tennis with class and dignity. Both Rebecca and Vanessa have those qualities. These two will have an immediate impact in the lineup in both singles and doubles."
 
Casas, a Mazatlan, Mexico, native has been ranked as high as No. 2 and is currently No. 3 in the U18 and U21 rankings in Mexico. The lefty will be joining the Aggies with a ton of international experience having played in tournaments like the Jalisco Junior Cup where she squared off against Melanie Butler (USA) and Brindtha Ramasamy (CAN). In 2014, Casas advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Daniella Moreno-Kaste (USA) before falling to Ayaka Okuno (JPN), a two-time International Tennis Federation singles champion.
 
 Keijzerwaard, who hails from Oudenhoorn, Netherlands, is ranked in the top-15 for juniors in her country and is ranked No. 123 in singles and No. 118 in doubles in the women's open rankings. At the national championships in her home country, Keijzerwaard advanced to the quarterfinals in singles and was a runner-up in doubles. At the age of 16, she teamed up with Sem Wensveen and made it the semifinals in doubles play before falling at the Focus TA OpenTE3.
 
"Vanessa and Rebecca are great additions that will help us compete for another WAC Championship," said Fernandez. "I am really looking forward to getting them out on the court in August."
 
The Aggies finished the regular-season 10-9 on the year and went undefeated in Western Athletic Conference play (5-0), earning their first regular-season championship. NM State looks to defend its WAC Championship title next week, beginning April 29.