LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Fresh off of its second-straight Western Athletic Conference Championship, the New Mexico State men's tennis team now heads to Lubbock, Texas, to face No. 8 Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
NM State and the eight-ranked Red Raiders are scheduled to square off at noon on Saturday, May 14, at the McLeod Tennis Center on the campus of Texas Tech University.
 
This is the second-straight NCAA appearance for the Aggie men, the first time in program history. NM State has only reached the Big Dance two other times (1997, 2000).

NCAA Tournament LINKS: Regional Central | Live Stats
 
ON THE RISE
Despite boasting a roster with three freshmen in the line-up, head coach Carlos Vargas has found the recipe to repeat as WAC Champions and earned the program's fourth NCAA Tournament bid. Then there's also sophomore sensation Christofer Goncalves, who has clinched match-point for NM State the past two seasons at the conference tournament championship match.
 
Not only are these freshmen reveling in competition, they're also doing it in critical situations. At one point or another, all three have given the Aggies match point and have claimed a singles flight title in the fall.
 
Goncalves, known amongst his teammates as Kenny, leads NM State with a 23-9 mark in singles action and also went undefeated in WAC play (5-0). The Barquisimeto, Venezuela, product went 13-5 at No. 2 singles. He's also riding a 10-match winning streak as NM State looks to capture its first NCAA Tournament victory.
 
Freshmen Stijn de Haan and Enrique Asmar both sport a 20-12 singles record, tying them for the second-most wins on the team. Senior Liam Goldberg is next on the team with a 19-8 overall singles mark. Mauri Benitez, one of the three freshmen in the line-up for Vargas, went 16-10 on the year to stand alongside senior Strahinja Trecakov (16-17) to round out the double-digit winners.
 
SCOUTING THE RED RAIDERS
The Aggies will have their hands full when they face off against the Red Raiders this Saturday. Serving as the host, No. 8 Texas Tech boasts a 27-5 overall record in dual play and 4-1 mark in Big 12 action. TTU is also 9-4 when facing ranked opponents this season and is a perfect 13-0 when playing at home.
 
By wins, Bjorn Thomson leads TTU with a 20-4 singles record followed by Connor Curry at 19-8. Jolan Cailleau is third on the team with an 18-5 mark. Alex Sendegeya is 17-8 while Felipe Soares checks in at 15-7 for Texas Tech. Hugo Dojas rounds out the double-digit winners for TTU with a 14-11 singles record.
 
The Red Raiders have a pair of players ranked in singles play according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. Soares, who sports a 15-7 mark in dual play at No. 1 singles, is ranked No. 19 in the nation while Dojas checks in at No. 98 in the country with a 14-11 mark – all in dual play.
 
The two also team up to make the No. 12 doubles pair in the country according to the ITA. Soares and Dojas were at No. 10 heading into the newest rankings since the NCAA Tournament field was announced. Together, the two are 9-7 at No. 1 doubles in dual play and 1-4 against ranked opponents.
 
ON THE HORIZON
On the other side of the bracket in Lubbock are No. 30 SMU and No. 39 Washington. The two are scheduled to face off after the completion of TTU and NM State's match. The winner will then play on Sunday at noon (MT) and move onto the round of 16.
 
The Mustangs finished their season 20-8 overall and 3-1 in the American Athletic Conference. SMU reached the semifinals of the AAC Tournament before falling to Tulsa, 4-1. The 30th-ranked Mustangs were 7-8 against ranked opponents this season and 1-0 in neutral site matches. SMU is paced by a pair of ranked 20-game winners in Nate Lammons (25-7) and Hunter Johnson (22-9). Johnson is ranked No. 72 while Lammons is ranked No. 112 by the ITA.
 
Yates Johnson and H. Johnson check at No. 31 in the latest ITA doubles rankings with a staggering 26-7 record and 17-5 dual mark playing predominantly at the No. 1 position. Arkadijs Slobodkins and Lammons are ranked 54th in the country together as they boast a 14-4 record and 8-2 mark in dual action at the No. 2 slot.
 
The Huskies of Washington wrapped up their season 17-9 overall with a 3-4 finish in a very competitive Pac-12 conference. UW was 6-9 on the year against ranked opponents. The Huskies are paced by Jake Douglas, who went 22-11 on the year, including a 15-8 mark in dual action. Mitch Stewart is the lone UW player ranked in singles play, checking in at No. 118 by the ITA. Stewart wrapped up his second season in Seattle with a 21-10 overall singles record and 16-7 mark in dual play.