Albuquerque, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's tennis team took a split in its first day of action at the Mountain Pacific Invitational hosted by New Mexico.
 
The Aggies (3-8) opened up the day against No. 71 Utah State (13-4) and fell to USU, 4-1, despite winning the doubles point. Once the teams began singles action, Utah State reeled off four-straight victories to clinch the match on court Nos. 2, 5, 1 and 6.
 
NM State's duo of Strahinja Trecakov and Christofer Goncalves put the Aggies ahead with a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles. Utah State knotted things up when they defeated New Mexico State's pair of Mauri Benitez and Nicholas Springer 7-5. Liam Goldberg and Stijn de Haan gave NM State its lone point when they downed USU's pair 7-6.
 
In its consolation match against Hawaii (1-9), the teams chose to just play singles matches. The Aggies wound up winning 4-2 over the Rainbow Warriors thanks to wins on court Nos. 2, 4, 5, and 6.
 
The Aggies will now play San Francisco for the consolation championship at 10 a.m. (MT). With weather being a factor for tomorrow's games, times and location is subject to change.