LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Playing in its first home match in 405 days, the NM State women's tennis team battled hard but dropped a 5-2 non-conference decision to visiting Northern Arizona Friday afternoon at the NM State Tennis Center.
DOUBLES
• In a disadvantageous position from the get-go, NM State was forced to cede the third-flight doubles match to the Lumberjacks due to a lack of available players.
• That didn't deter Harsha Challa and Gavi Kalaga from getting the job done on the top line. NM State's pair of juniors took down Northern Arizona's pairing of Mimi Bland and Ellie Millard by a 6-4 tally to help NM State pull even in tandem action.
• Chloe Gavino and Bella Nguyen battled back to tie their second-flight doubles bout with Elinor Beazley and Gina Dittman at 6-6, but Northern Arizona's twosome made all the right moves down the stretch. Gavino and Nguyen ultimately fell by a 7-6 (4) score, putting NM State at a 1-0 disadvantage.
SINGLES
• Unable to slot anyone in at flight six, the Aggies' quickly found themselves down 2-0 as Northern Arizona won that singles bout by default.
• The Aggies' deficit grew to 3-0 after Bishard fell 6-0, 6-1 to Bland in third-flight action.
• From there, the Lumberjacks clinched the win when Challa fell to Dittmann 6-2, 7-5 in top-flight play.
• Kalaga returned to the win column in singles play by gutting out a 7-6 (1), 6-1 triumph against Ava Neyestani in fourth-flight play.
• Both the second and fifth flights went to three sets. Gavino pulled even with Millard on line two by securing an emphatic 6-0 victory in the middle frame, but a second-straight set win wasn't in the books as Gavino fell 6-4, 0-6, 6-3.
• Nguyen was a three-set winner over Beazley on line five. After posting a 6-2 triumph in set one, Nguyen was forced to play a third set after Beazley claimed a 6-3 triumph in the middle frame. Fortunately, Nguyen was up to the challenge and earned a 7-6 (2) victory in the deciding set.
COMING UP NEXT
• NM State welcomes Texas adversary UTEP to the NM State Tennis Center Sunday at noon for a non-conference bout.
++NM State++
