FLAGSTAFF, Calif. – The New Mexico State women's tennis team gutted out a gritty 4-3 win Saturday afternoon over Utah State at the Aquatic and Tennis Complex on the campus of Northern Arizona.
 
The start of doubles play didn't bode well for the NM State (2-2) as it fell in the top doubles position 6-1. However, Lindsay Harlas and Rebecca Keijzerwaard gave NM State some light with a 6-4 win on court No. 2 against USU's Annaliese County and Rhoda Tanui. The duo of Chloe Gavino and Yadira Rubio had the icing on the cake and win three-straight points and captured the doubles point for NM State with a 6-4 win on court No. 3.
 
Utah State (1-4) didn't waste any time in singles play and tied the match up with a 6-1, 6-0 on court No. 3. After dropping the first set, Keijzerwaard dug deep and rallied to win the next to sets for the 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory at the top singles position.
 
That NM State lead didn't last very long with USU's Sidnee Lavatai besting Gavi Kalaga on court No. 5 6-3, 6-4 before County gave Utah State the 3-2 lead with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win on court No. 6 over Gavino.
 
New Mexico State had other plans though and reeled off wins on courts No. 2 and No. 4 in three sets. Harlas knotted things up after losing the first set 6-0 and roared back to defeat her counterpart at the No. 2 singles slot 0-6, 6-1, 6-2.
 
Like Harlas and Keijzerwaard, Harsha Challa rallied back down a set with a dominant 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win on court No. 4 to clinch the match for New Mexico State.
 
NM State will now head home for a few days before hitting the road once against for a trio of matches in Las Vegas. First up will be the host Rebels of UNLV (Feb. 15) before taking on Colorado State (Feb. 16) and UC Riverside (Feb. 17).