LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's tennis team plays host to the 2017 edition of the Aggie Invitational starting this Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday. Matches are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. (MT) all three days, beginning with doubles play at the NM State Tennis center.
 
Head coach Carlos Vargas as the Aggies look to have a similar display as last year with an all NM State singles quarterfinal match-up. Now junior Stijn de Haan looks to defend his singles title crown after defeating teammate Christofer Goncalves in a three-set thriller 5-7, 6-4, 7-6.
 
New Mexico, Abilene Christian, Arizona, Western New Mexico, Arizona Christian and Mesa Community College are all competing in this year's tournament, which consists of a Crimson, White and Black flights for singles along with a Crimson and White flight for doubles.
 
Goncalves, the defending WAC Player of the Year, is set to square off against Arizona Christian's Andrews Vasquez at 10 a.m. (MT) while Luis Flores opens up with Vladimir Gnilozubov from Western New Mexico. In the bottom half of the Crimson singles flight sits de Haan and Sergi Espias. De Haan faces Gary Rendek of Mesa CC while Espias battles Hunter Holeman of Abilene Christian.
 
Mauricio Benitez stands atop the White singles flight, taking on Enzo Douillac of Arizona Christian while first-year Aggie Louis Menard makes his debut against Michael Tran of New Mexico. Enrique Asmar occupies the top of the bottom bracket and slated to battle ACU's Brad Gleason. Yusuke Nishitani, another newcomer for NM State drew Lucas Severo of Mesa CC to round out the White singles flight.
 
Also making his debut in the Crimson & White will be Alejandro Rosas, who has a bye in the first round of the Black singles flight. The Spaniard will square off against the winner between Arizona Christian's Theodor Preiswerk and Mesa CC's Yuri Jacob. In the same flight is Luis Garza, who'll play the Firebirds' Luke Stanivukovic.
 
For a full listing of the doubles draw, click here.