LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's tennis team swept through Western New Mexico on Friday at the NMSU Tennis Center, 7-0, in its dual home-opener.
 
The Aggies (2-6) got things rolling at home thanks to their No. 3 doubles team of Liam Goldberg and Mauri Benitez, who took down their counterparts from WNMU, 6-3, to clinch the doubles point.
 
With a 1-0 lead heading into singles action, NM State's top three players made a strong statement and won in succession to clinch the match for the Aggies.
 
Senior Strahinja Trecakov gave NM State a quick 2-0 lead when he ousted Western New Mexico's (2-2) Jean Laurent Pageault 6-3, 6-0. Sophomore Christofer Goncalves extended the lead when he downed Vladimir Gnilozubov on court No. 2 – 6-2, 6-4.
 
In his return to the lineup, Goldberg clinched the match for NM State with a hard-fought 6-5, 6-2 victory over Tristan Da Lio at No. 3 singles.
 
Enrique Asmar and Benitez followed with wins on courts No. 6 and 5, respectively, before Stijn de Haan needed a tiebreaker to give the Aggies the 7-0 sweep of the Mustangs.
 
The Aggies return to action next Saturday at 4 p.m. for a neutral site match against Utah in Albuquerque, N.M.
 
Match #8
NM State 7, Western New Mexico
February 19, 2016
NMSU Tennis Center
Las Cruces, N.M.
 
Doubles

1. Trecakov/Goncalves (NMSU) def. Gnilozubov/Da Lio (WNMU) – 6-3
2. Pageault/Santibanez (WNMU) def. Asmar/Springer (NMSU) – 7-5
3. Goldberg/Benitez (NMSU) def. O'Keefe/Fraboulet (WNMU) – 6-3

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
 
Singles

1. Strahinja Trecakov (NMSU) def. Jean Laurent Pageault (WNMU) – 6-3, 6-0
2. Christofer Goncalves (NMSU) def. Vladimir Gnilozubov (WNMU) – 6-2, 6-4
3. Liam Goldberg (NMSU) def. Tristian Da Lio (WNMU) – 6-5, 6-2
4. Stijn de Haan (NMSU) def. Blyze O'Keefe (WNMU) 6-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6)
5. Mauri Benitez (NMSU) def. Liam Fraboulet (WNMU) – 6-4, 6-1
6. Enrique Asmar (NMSU) def. Pablo Santibanez (WNMU) – 6-4, 6-2

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3, 6, 4, 5, 4