LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State head men's tennis coach Carlos Vargas released the schedule for the upcoming 2016-17 season. Vargas will put his team to the test this season with all but one tournament and three dual matches on the road.
 
The two-time defending Western Athletic Conference champions will open the season with the NMSU Aggie Invitational (Sept. 16-18) and will hit the road the next six months before returning home in mid-April.
 
The following week, NM State heads west for the Arizona Invitational (Sept. 23-25). In October, the Aggies drive up I-25 for the Balloon Fiesta (Oct. 7-9) hosted by New Mexico.
 
Vargas and the Aggies had a successful run last season at the Aggie Invitational, Arizona Invitational and Balloon Fiesta, winning several flights in singles action.
 
The Aggies wrap up their fall slate with the ITA Regional Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., on the campus of UNLV.  
 
New Mexico State then opens up the dual season on Friday, Jan. 27, when it entertains Mesa Community College at 2 p.m. before returning to Sin City. Vargas and company will look for redemption beginning at 9 a.m. (MT) against the host, UNLV, on Feb. 3 before squaring off against UC Riverside at 1 p.m. that same day.  On Saturday, Feb. 4, NM State battles Weber State – whom the Aggies defeated last season 4-3, and conclude the weekend against Youngstown State on Sunday. Feb. 5.
 
The following weekend, NM State heads to Dallas, Texas, for a pair of matches against Incarnate Word (Feb. 11) and UT Arlington (Feb. 12). On Saturday, Feb. 25, the road warriors head up I-25 to battle with UNM at 3 p.m.
 
In March, The Aggies head to Corpus Christi, Texas, for a trio of matches at the HEB Invitational (March 3-4) before flying to California for a tournament hosted by UC Davis and Sacramento State (March 10-12).
 
The Aggies then turn their attention to WAC play starting Friday, Feb. 24, with Grand Canyon – who will serve as the first conference cluster host. NM State then battles Chicago State the next day before flying to Seattle for the second conference cluster.
 
NM State opens that weekend with Seattle U on Friday, April 7, prior to UMKC (April 8) and UT Rio Grande Valley (April 9).
 
The Aggies then finally return home for two matches, beginning with UT Permian Basin on Sunday, April 16. NM State then wraps up the regular-season with Western New Mexico at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18.
 
Ten days later, NM State looks to defend its WAC Tournament title on its home court as the Aggies play host to the conference tournament, April 28-30.