LAS VEGAS – The New Mexico State men's tennis team picked up a few wins on day one of the ITA Mountain Regional Championships on Tuesday at the Darling Tennis Center.
 
In doubles action, the duo of Stijn de Haan and Mauri Benitez took care of business in their opening-round match after a fierce battle against Southern Utah's pair 8-6. NM State's other team of Louis Menard and Enrique Asmar cruised to victory against their foes from Air Force Academy, 8-3.
 
Menard also saw success in singles play, winning both matches on Tuesday. The Annecy, France, native first took down the No. 11 seed from Northern Arizona 6-1, 6-3 before moving past Weber State's Michiel Van Schoon 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 – which sets him up against UNLV's Ollie Thestrup in the Round of 16.
 
Asmar also picked up a win in the opening round of singles action, taking down the No. 3 seed in David Micevski 6-3, 7-6 before falling in his next match 6-3, 6-4 versus Idaho's Guiherme Scarpelli. De Haan was bested in his first match despite forcing a third set 6-3, 5-7, 7-6. However, the senior picked it up in his next match with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Northern Arizona's Facundo Tumoas and will take on Jordan Saur of UNLV on Wednesday in consolation play.
 
Benitez fell in his first match of the day to BYU's Vinicius Nogueria 6-3, 6-3 and bowed out after losing his consolation match 6-3, 6-2 against Utah State's Sergiu Bucur. Martin Simecek also dropped his opening match to Air Force Academy's Pat Skleka 6-1, 6-1 before falling 7-5, 6-4 to Utah's Russell Benkaim in consolation action.
 
Day two of the ITA Mountain Regional Championships will resume on Wednesday at the Darling Tennis Center with doubles play before moving onto singles action.