PHOENIX, Ariz. – With the match coming down to Erika Castillo Lopez on court No. 4, the senior rose to the challenge and defeated UT Rio Grande Valley's Natacha Minc in three sets to give the NM State women's tennis team the win in its Western Athletic Conference opener – 4-3.
 
Doubles action started off well for New Mexico State (4-7, 1-0 WAC) as they ran through UT Rio Grande Valley (3-5, 0-1 WAC), winning all three matches to take an early 1-0 lead.
 
Rimpledeep Kaur extended that NM State lead to 2-0 when she cruised to a win at No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-1. Senior Ashvarya Shrivastav made it 3-0 in favor or the Aggies when she took down UTRGV's Reegan Greanwood 6-4, 6-3 at singles No. 1.
 
However, the Vaqueros mounted their comeback after going down 3-0 to take courts No. 5, 3 and 6 to tie the match at 3-3.
 
Castillo and UTRGV's Natacha Minc battled back-and-forth as evident by Castillo winning the first set 7-5 and Minc taking the second set 7-6. Despite Minc having momentum heading into the third set, Castillo's veteran experience allowed her to take the 6-2 win and clinch the WAC opener for NM State.
 
The Aggies continue its conference cluster in Phoenix on Saturday when they take on the host, Grand Canyon, before heading home.
 
NM State 4, UTRGV 3
March 18, 2016
Paseo Racquet Club
Phoenix, Ariz.

Doubles

1. Castillo/Joyce (NMSU) def. Aleksovska/Esparza (UTRGV) – 6-3
2. Kaur/Shrivastav (NMSU) def. Donaho/Greenwood (UTRGV) – 6-2
3. Jolliff/Harlas (NMSU) def. Ibarra/Minc (UTRGV) – 6-2

Order of Finish: 2, 3*, 1
 
Single

1. Ashvarya Shrivastav (NMSU) def. Reegan Greenwood (UTRGV) – 6-4, 6-3
2. Rimpledeep Kaur (NMSU) def. Dominique Esparza (UTRGV) – 6-1, 6-1
3. Dominique Ibarra (UTRGV) def. Chloe Jolliff (NMSU) – 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
4. Erika Castillo Lopez (NMSU) def. Natacha Minc (UTRGV) – 7-5, 6-7, 6-2
5. Doris Aleksovska (UTRGV) def. Lindsey Harlas (NMSU) – 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
6. Tara Donaho (UTRV) def. Eli Arnaudova (NMSU) – 6-3, 4-6, 6-1

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