DENVER – New Mexico State women's tennis Vanessa Valdez was named this week's Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week the conference office announced.
 
This is the second-straight honor for NM State with Rimpledeep Kaur earning the award this past fall. This is also the first weekly award for the freshman Valdez as well.  
 
Valdez, a Mazatlan, Mexico, native went undefeated in her first collegiate dual match last Saturday and clinched the match for the Aggies. Valdez first teamed up first teamed up with fellow freshman Rebecca Keijzerwaard for NM State's lone victory in doubles action when they took down Central Oklahoma's pair in dominating fashion – 6-1.
 
With the Aggies holding a 3-2 lead in singles action, Valdez cruised past UCO's Kirtana Bhat 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 2 singles position to give NM State the match clinching point.
 
New Mexico State will now hit the road for a three-match road swing in Las Vegas, Nev., (Jan. 20-22) where they'll play host UNLV (Jan. 20), Pacific (Jan. 21) and Weber State (Jan. 22). All three matches are schedule to begin at 11 a.m. mountain time.