LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Despite rallying back after going down 3-1, the top-seeded New Mexico State men's tennis team saw its 3-Pete bid fall short on Sunday at the NM State Tennis Center against the second-seeded 'Roos of UMKC 4-3 in the title match of the Western Athletic Conference Championship.
 
The loss drops NM State to 17-6 overall on the year, wrapping up the 2016-17 campaign tied for the program record for most wins a in a single-season - tying the 1998-99 squad.
 
With the match tied 3-3, all eyes were on court No. 4 as Sergi Espias rallied from being down one set against UMKC's Amaury Navette 6-2. The Barcelona, Spain, product answered back and took the second set 6-2, which forced the deciding third set.
 
Just prior to Espias taking the second set, teammate Mauri Benitez took care of his foe at No. 6 singles 7-6 (5), 6-2 which tied the match up 3-3 for Espias.
 
Heading in to third set, Espias and Navette battled back-and-forth with neither player taking more than a one game lead at any point. Trailing the entire third set, Espias valiantly fought back and forced a tiebreaker thanks to the Aggie faithful in attendance screaming their lungs off.
 

Like much of the third set, the tie break was also a back-and-forth match. However, UMKC's Navette got the best of Espias and clinched the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament when Espias double faulted with Navette receiving and leading 7-6 in the tiebreaker.
 
NM State went down early 3-0 in singles action after surrendering matches on courts No. 2 and No. 3 to UMKC (14-8) – who clinched the doubles point to start the afternoon.
 
Stijn de Haan just needed a little time before he set UMKC's Tom Kruse packing with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at the No. 3 singles position. Christofer Goncalves, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, cut UMKC's lead down to 3-2 when he defeated Airam Castellano 6-3, 6-2 in the top singles position.
 
Benitez and his opponent, Vinh Pham, grinded it out at No. 6 singles and barely finished their first set by the time UMKC took the first singles point on court No. 2. But, patience paid off for the Aggie sophomore as  Benitez's resolved allowed him to keep the rally going when he defeated Pham 7-6 (5), 6-2.
 
All-tournament team selections will be released Tuesday, May 2, after the coaches have had time to evaluate this weekend's performances.