LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's tennis team opened its 2017 dual season with a 5-2 victory over Central Oklahoma Saturday at the NM State Tennis Center.
 
"This was a good match to get under our belt," Aggie head coach Ivan Fernandez said. "We normally don't get an op to play a match like this, especially before going to Las Vegas next week and playing three good teams. We're very fortunate to have the opportunity to play here and just to get some of the cobwebs out and get in the rhythm of playing dual match tennis."
 
Shaking off the cobwebs they did as Fernandez saw his team drop the doubles point. His freshman tandem of Vanessa Valdez and Rebecca Keijzerwaard were the only ones to win their doubles match in the No. 2 slot 6-1.
 
"We came out a little bit slow in doubles, but our No. 2 doubles team of Vanessa and Rebecca just took control of the situation and played super aggressive and won that doubles match. In turn, they also carried that into singles play and won pretty handedly."
 
Keijerwaard made quick work of her Central Oklahoma's Alix Williams at No. 3 singles, claiming the first point for NM State with a 6-0, 6-1 victory. UCO's Alli Hodges, the No. 43 singles player in Division II according to the ITA, regained the lead for the Bronchos when she defeated Rimpledeep Kaur 6-1, 6-3 at the top singles slot.
 
However, NM State finally found its rhythm and reeled off four-straight victories. Lindsay Harlas, a Las Cruces native, knotted things up at 2-2 when she upended her opponent 6-3, 6-2. Transfer Elizabeth Geronimo needed a third set after playing her first match in over a year, but was able to take down UCO's Shali Schoepflin 6-1, 2-6, 6-1.
 
Valdez clinched the match for the Aggies when she defeated Kirtana Bhat 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 2 singles slot as Eli Arnaudova put on the finishing touches with a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 5 singles.
 
"I was really happy they got to experience this." Fernandez said in regards to his freshmen playing. "This was their first experience of dual match college tennis. Both Rebecca and Vanessa handled it really well. Even Fanni played an exhibition match at No. 7 singles and won easily. I'm really happy with the result. The fact that we were able to get a solid match like this before jumping into the full swing of the season is great to do."
 
Match #1
NM State 5 – Central Oklahoma 2
January 14, 2017
NM State Tennis Center
Las Cruces, N.M.
 
Doubles

1. Hodges/Bhat (UCO) def. Joyce/Geronimo (NMSU) – 7-5
2. Valdez/Keijerwaard (NMSU) def. Semo/Schoepflin (UCO) – 6-1
3. Williams/Bond (UCO) def. Novak/Arnaudova (NMSU) – 6-3

Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
 
Singles

1. #43 Alli Hodges (UCO) def. Rimpledeep Kaur (NMSU) – 6-1, 6-3
2. Vanessa Valdez (NMSU) def. Kirtana Bhat (UCO) – 6-3, 6-2
3. Rebecca Keijzerwaard (NMSU) def. Alix Williams (UCO) – 6-0, 6-1
4. Elizabeth Geronimo (NMSU) def. Shali Schoepflin (UCO) – 6-1, 2-6, 6-1
5. Eli Arnaudova (NMSU) def. Emilie Semo (UCO) – 7-5, 6-2
6. Lindsay Harlas (NMSU) def. Jenny Bond (UCO) – 6-3, 6-2
7. Fanni Novak (NMSU) def. Alison Powers (UCO) – 6-2, 6-1 (Exhibition)

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