FIRST SERVE
• After handling business at home, the Aggies will look to continue their hot play in the heat of a pair of Texas towns as they travel to face Abilene Christian on Thursday before visiting Tarleton on Saturday.
• Before returning to Las Cruces, NM State will then make a stop in Waco, Texas, where they will collide with Big 12 counterpart Baylor.
• With victories over both Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin last week, the Aggies moved to a perfect 4-0 in home WAC matches. However, NM State is 0-2 when playing league opponents away from the NM State Tennis Center this season.
• With only four matches left on the schedule, NM State has been led in singles play by freshman Anna Pinaieva who collected a pair of wins last week on the way to earning the title of WAC Singles Player of the Week. This season, Pinaieva is one of three Aggies with 10 singles wins this season – joined by Lisa Zhu and Miranda Bishard.
• Bishard and Pinaieva have also been two of the Aggies best since the start of WAC play as both hoist a 5-1 conference record. Meanwhile, Dora Kurdi is a perfect 3-0 against conference opponents.
• In doubles action, Bella Nguyen and Miranda Bishard continue to serve as one of the best tandems in the WAC as they lead the Aggies with ten victories, including a 5-0 record in WAC play.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
The women of Abilene Christian have put together a record of 8-11 on the year and will enter Thursday's match with just two wins in their last seven matches. Most recently, ACU pulled off an upset win over Tarleton as they defeated the Texans 5-2 at home. Individually, the Wildcats are led by Olivia Sears who is the lone ACU player with double-digit wins this season as she is 10-8, including nine wins at the No. 3 spot.
 
While the Wildcats' No. 4 through No. 6 has been strong – posting a combined record of 30-21, ACU's top players have struggled this season as players playing in the No. 1 through No. 3 spots are a combined 22-34. In doubles play, ACU is led by the tandem of Maria Cascos and Maryjoe Crisologo who have teamed up to post an 8-7 record.
 
SCOUTING THE TEXANS
Tarleton begins the weekend with an 11-6 record and will host Grand Canyon in Stephenville, Texas, on Thursday before seeing the Aggies on Saturday. Despite falling at Abilene Christian last week, the Texans have looked like one of the WAC's best teams this season and have won four of their last six matches. In singles play, they will be led by freshman Emma Persson who is 13-3 and 4-1 in WAC play.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Baylor currently sits at 12-11 on the season and will host UTSA on Saturday before matching up with the Aggies. This spring, Baylor has been paced by Alina Shcherbinina who sits at 14-5 in singles action, including a 10-4 mark at the No. 1 spot. Meanwhile, Paula Baranano and Daniella Dimitrov represent the Bears' top doubles team as they are 9-7 on they are 4-6 on the top line.
 
UP NEXT
After the trio of Texas matches, NM State will wrap up its regular season with a home bout versus Grand Canyon on April 16. The Aggies and Lopes are set to begin play at 10 a.m. at the NM State Tennis Center.
 
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Fans looking to keep up with the Aggies this weekend can follow the action through live stats via NMStateStats.com or tune in via live stream here. Fans can also track the Aggies on Twitter (@NMStateWTEN), Instagram (@NMStateWTEN) and Facebook (NM State Women's Tennis).