ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The NM State men's tennis team picked up moment on Friday at the USTA/ITA Regional Championships held at the Linda Estes Tennis Center and McKinnon Family Tennis Center on the campus of the University of New Mexico.
 
The Aggies looked more like themselves on Friday, going 5-1 on the day in singles action. Liam Goldberg went 2-0 after dispatching UNM's Bart Van Leijsen 7-6, 6-3 in his second match of the day.
 
Mauricio Benitez advanced to the round of 32 in the back draws when his opponent withdrew, but suffered a 6-3, 6-3 loss to the Lobos' Sean Baklini in his following contest.
 
Enrique Asmar and Stijn DeHaan both had a bye to start the back draw. Asmar then went on to defeat Northern Arizona's Thomas Fisher in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. DeHaan had to earn his win against Peter Mimnagh-Fleming of Montana. The freshman took the first set 6-4, but was challenged in the second set. However, Stijn was able to find his composure and put the nail on the coffin in the third set with a convincing 6-1 victory.
 
NM State's woes in doubles action continues as all three pairs lost in the back draw on Friday.
 
Day four of the regional championships will continue tomorrow with the main draw, followed by the back draws.
 
USTA/ITA Regional Championships
October 23, 2015
Linda Estes Tennis Center
McKinnon Family Tennis Center
Albuquerque, N.M.
 
Doubles (Back Draw)
Goryachkov/Monroe (BYU) def. Goncalves/Benitez (NMSU) 8-7
Ugarte/Araya (UI) def. Trecakov/Goldberg (NMSU) 8-3
Fumagalli/Olson (AFA) def. Asmar/DeHaan (NMSU) 8-5
 
Singles (Back Draw - 64)
Liam Goldberg (NMSU) def. Sanjay Goswami (WSU) 6-3, 6-0
Mauricio Benitez (NMSU) def. Lucas Taylor (NAU) (W/O)
 
Singles (Back Draw - 32)
Liam Goldberg (NMSU) def. Bart Van Leijsen (UNM) 7-6, 6-3
Sean Baklini (UNM) def. Mauricio Benitez (NMSU) 6-3, 6-3
Enrique Asmar (NMSU) def. Thomas Fisher (NAU) 6-3, 6-4
Stijn DeHaan (NMSU) def. Peter Mimnagh-Fleming (UM) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1