TUCSON, Ariz. – In its final bouts with non-conference foes before beginning WAC play, NM State found itself across from arguably its two toughest opponents of the season.
 
To open the day, the Aggies fell 5-0 to No. 35 Illinois at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center on the campus of Arizona. NM State would then fall 4-0 later in the evening when they matched up against the No. 58 Wildcats.
 
In the first match of their Tuesday doubleheader, the Aggies battled hard at the No. 2 position during doubles action as Bella Nguyen and Miranda Bishard found themselves with a 5-4 advantage, however, their match would go unfinished due to Illinois victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots.
 
While the Aggies were unable to win a set in singles play against the Fighting Illini, Anna Pinaieva, Natsuki Nishimura and Miranda Bishard fought tooth and nail in their opening sets to win four games before falling 6-4.
 
After falling in two of three matches in doubles play, NM State's Anna Pinaieva secured the Aggies' lone set win in singles play as she managed a 6-4 win over Arizona's No. 1 player Reece Carter. Pinaieva's would eventually end early in the second set as the Wildcats claimed wins at the three, four and five spots.
 
UP NEXT
NM State now gears up to begin WAC play this weekend as they host Utah Tech and Seattle U on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Both matches are set to begin at 10 a.m.