CHICAGO – The New Mexico State women's tennis team had its work cut out for itself Friday at the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club against Seattle U, narrowly edging the Redhawks 4-3 in a three-set thriller from senior Yadira Rubio.
 
With the match tied up at 3-3 after Rebecca Keijzerwaard was bested by Hannah Gianan at the top singles position, Rubio climbed back down a set to force the deciding third. Rubio was challenged the whole match against Seattle U's Kali McCollister but was able to claw back in the third set to tie it up 5-5 before clinching the match 0-6, 6-4 7-5.
 
Chloe Gavino and Keijzerwaard got things going early on for NM State, taking down their counterpart on court No. 3 6-2 before Lindsay Harlas and Rubio clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 victory at the No. 2 position.
 
The Aggies (11-7, 3-1 WAC) raced off to a 2-0 start once singles action started thanks to Gavino, who picked off Lily-Ana Kreutzer 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 6 slot. Neus Torregrosa made it a 3-0 advantage for New Mexico State shortly after that with a 6-1, 6-2 win on court No. 4 over Martina Asciuto.
 
However, the Redhawks (5-13, 0-4 WAC) didn't lay down and slowly crept back into the match beginning with a 6-4, 6-4 win on court No. 3 against Harsha Challa for their first point of the match. Harlas then went down at the No. 2 position and cut the Aggie lead to 3-2 before Keijzerwaard went down to set up the heroics from Rubio.
 
NM State will wrap things up on Saturday, April 6, at 11:30 a.m. (MT) against host Chicago State before returning home for senior day on Tuesday, April 9, at 2 p.m.