LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's tennis team had a great start to the fall season on Friday at the NM State Tennis Center as it played host to the 2018 Aggie Invitational. The Aggies saw at least three teams or individual players advance in the opening-round of each flight.
 
A pair of Aggie tandems advanced to the quarterfinals of doubles play and could meet in the semis should both pairs claim victories on Saturday.
 
The duo of Yadira Rubio and newcomer Neus Torregrosa cruised to a 6-1, 6-4 in their opening round and faced off against the Aggie duo of Lindsay Harlas and Harsha Challa in the next round. A tense battle ensued between the two NM State teams that ended in a thrilling 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) victory for Harlas and Challa.
 
Quinty Janssen and transfer Clara Rizea sailed past their counterparts from Western New Mexico before falling to UTEP's pair 7-6, 6-2. Meanwhile, freshman Chloe Gavino and transfer Nadia Justiniano battled back from down one set in doubles play to win 2-6, 6-3, 10-6. The two wound up squaring off against Rebecca Keijzerwaard and Gavi Kalaga, who won their first match 6-1, 6-0. Momentum carried over for Gavino and Justiniano giving them an early win in the first set before a rally from Keijzerwaard and Kalaga saw them triumph 3-6, 6-3, 10-4.
 
Singles action in the Crimson flight saw a quartet of Aggies advance to the next round. Keijzerwaard made quick work of her foe from WNMU, winning 6-0, 6-3 while Harlas cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 win herself. Rubio moved on with a score of 6-4, 6-3 in her singles match while Challa finished up the long of matches with a 6-2, 6-2 win over UTEP's Erandi Martinez.
 
In the White singles bracket, a trio of Aggie players advanced to the next round with wins on Friday. Janssen received the top-seed in the tournament and received a bye in the opening round. The sophomore is slated to open singles action up against WNMU's Karina Diaz Kolovoz. Rizea dominated her opening-round match, blanking the Mustang's Jaci Fulgenzi, 6-0, 6-0. Meanwhile, Gavino gathered herself after a slow start and captured the 6-4, 6-0 win Friday afternoon.
 
Day two of the Aggie Invitational is slated to begin at 9 a.m. (MT) with one round of doubles before playing two rounds of singles action. Admission is free for all fans throughout the tournament and all NM State men's and women's tennis matches.