LAS VEGAS - Lisa Zhu just keeps winning.
The NM State women's tennis freshman's quest for an ITA Mountain Regional singles title remains alive after she won twice more Thursday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on UNLV's campus. Zhu is one of eight players remaining in the flight two singles bracket who are in line for a regional crown.
She and Harsha Challa also continued their winning ways in doubles action to ensure NM State has a chance at a doubles crown at the ITA Regional event, too.
DOUBLES
• With a spot in the ITA Mountain Regional's round of 16 at stake, Harsha Challa and Lisa Zhu continued their stretch of strong play. NM State's pairing bested Utah's duo of Linda Huang and Anastasia Goncharova by a score of 8-3. Heading into the five-day regional tournament, Huang and Goncharova were seeded as the eighth-overall doubles tandem of the 58 total duos in contention.
SINGLES
• Chloe Gavino's run in the flight one singles draw came to an end as she dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision to UNLV's Molly Helgesson.
• Though Gavino got knocked out of the running for a title, Zhu remained in line for one. NM State's freshman played her way into the quarterfinal round of flight two with a pair of victories.
• Zhu began her day by scoring a 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 triumph over Wyoming's Mihaela Kaftanova to move on to the round of 16.
• With a second three-set win later in the day, this one of the 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 variety over BYU's Helen Jiao, Zhu is one of eight individuals left in contention for a regional title in flight two.
• Zhu is now 6-0 in singles matches through the fall season.
COMING UP NEXT
• At 10:00 a.m. MT Friday morning, Challa and Zhu play for a spot in the ITA Mountain Regional doubles quarterfinals. NM State's duo will tangle with Denver's tandem of Taylor Melville and Andrea Burguete-Beltran at that time. Singles action for Zhu and a host of other Aggies who will take part in extra matches of the non-championship round variety will begin following the eight doubles round of 16 matches.
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