LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Rimpledeep Kaur was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year Thursday night at the conference postseason awards banquet as the junior headlined a host of honors for NM State.
 
This is the second-straight year the Aggies have captured player of the year honors with Ashvarya Shrivastav taking home last year's honor.
 
In addition to being named the player of the year, Kaur was also named First-Team All-WAC for the first time in her collegiate career. The 5-4 junior claimed second-team honors as a freshman when NM State captured its first WAC title.
 
The Jassowal, India, product wrapped up her junior campaign 14-9 overall and 11-7 in dual play to go with an undefeated run in WAC play (5-0) at the top singles position. Kaur also participated at the prestigious ITA Master's event this past fall.
 
Freshman Vanessa Valdez was up to the challenge when head coach Ivan Fernandez played the first-year player at the No. 2 singles position. The Mazatlán, Mexico, native went 16-16 in her first season and was nearly perfect in conference play at 4-1. Valdez was also 2-0 when she competed at the top single slot for NM State.
 
In doubles play, Kaur and Marie-Pier Thiffault claimed First-Team All-WAC honors after going 10-4 overall and in dual play. The duo also swept their opponents in WAC matches with a perfect 5-0 record. The top NM State doubles team head into this weekend's conference championship with a five-match winning-streak.
 
Sophomore Lindsay Harlas and senior Gabrielle Joyce added Second-Team All-WAC accolades for the Aggies thanks to their 13-3 mark at No. 3 doubles. The duo wrapped up the dual season 11-2 with a 4-1 record in WAC contests while winning eight of their last 10 matches.
 
New Mexico State looks to reclaim the WAC Championship title after falling to UT Rio Grande Valley last season in Edinburg, Texas, in the championship match. As the No. 2 seed, NM State will get that opportunity to avenge its bid to repeat as champions on Saturday, April 29, at 9 a.m. when the Aggies square off against the No. 3 seed UTRGV at the NM State Tennis Center. Admission is free all weekend for the conference championship.