LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's tennis team was tripped up at home by Iowa State, falling to the Cyclones 4-2 at the NM State Tennis Center on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Aggies (4-7) looked dialed during doubles play against Iowa State with their No. 1 and No. 2 doubles team switching spots. Vanessa Valdez and Rebecca Keijzerwaard, who usually play at the No. 2 slot, defeated ISU's pair at the No. 1 position 6-4. Rimpledeep Kaur teamed up with Marie-Pier Thiffault once again, this time on court No. 2, and clinched the doubles point for NM State with a 6-4 victory.
 
Iowa State (14-2) tied things up at 1-1 in singles action when Thiffault was bested by ISU's Erin Freeman 6-0, 6-0. Valdez regained the 2-1 lead for NM State after besting Regina Espinola 6-3, 6-4 on court No. 2.
 
Eli Arnaudova came roaring back in the second set and forced a third set, but exhausted her energy and fell 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 on court No. 4. Iowa State captured its fourth and final point at No. 5 singles when Margarita Timakova bested Lindsay Harlas 6-2, 6-4.
 
New Mexico State will now turn its focus towards Western Athletic Conference play as it plays host to the first WAC pods beginning Friday, March 17. NM State will first square off against Seattle U on Friday, March, 17 at 2 p.m. before battling UMKC at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The Aggies will then wrap up the weekend with a noon match against UT Rio Grande Valley.
 
Admission is free for every match throughout this weekend and the year at the NM State Tennis Center for all Aggie contests.
 

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