FIRST SERVE
• NM State heads to Arizona on a three-match win streak after defeating both UTEP and Weatherford College on Friday, March 10.
• The Aggies will take part in their second straight two-match day as they battle with Arizona and Illinois in Tucson, Ariz., on Tuesday of this week.
• Tuesday's opener against the Fighting Illini will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs while the Aggies have faced off with the Wildcats of Arizona 10 times in their history.
• Thus far, the Aggies have been led in singles play by Lisa Zhu who has tallied seven wins on the season – all coming at the No. 2 position.
• Meanwhile, the Aggies' hottest singles players have been Miranda Bishard and Bella Nguyen who are both currently riding a three-match win streak. Bishard also ranks second among the Crimson & White in solo wins with six.
• Nguyen, Natsuki Nishimura and Anna Pinaieva are currently tied for third on the Aggies' squad in singles wins as each player has recorded five wins during the spring season.
• In doubles action, Bella Nguyen and Miranda Bishard lead the way with five victories while two other Aggie tandems have recorded four wins on the season (Natsuki Nishimura/Valeriia Ivanovskaia and Anna Pinaieva/Lisa Zhu).
• The duo of Nishimura and Ivanovskaia are currently undefeated as they have recorded wins in each of their four matches alongside each other.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
• NM State will have an opportunity to play high-level competition in their final weekend before starting WAC play as they face off with two Power Five opponents who both rank inside the top 75 in the ITA Rankings.
• The host Wildcats are currently ranked 60^th in the nation as a team and are 7-1 at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center.
• Additionally, the Aggies' No. 2 player Lisa Zhu will likely face off with Illinois' Ashley Yeah who is stands as the 100^th ranked Division I player in the nation according to the ITA Collegiate Rankings.
• The Fighting Illini's top doubles team will also serve as a big test for Anna Pinaieva and Lisa Zhu as the tandem of Kate Duong and Megan Heuser are listed as the No. 30 team in the ITA rankings.

UP NEXT
NM State will have a quick turnaround before hosting Utah Tech and Seattle U this weekend to open league play. The Trailblazers will face off against the Aggies on Friday, March 17 at 10 a.m. before Seattle U visits Las Cruces on Sunday, March 19 at 10 a.m.