NM State returns home on Friday afternoon against Middle Tennessee. (Photo: Courtesy)
Source: NM State Athletics
BOZEMAN, Mont. – For the second consecutive weekend, the Aggies were on the road as they visited the state of Montana for a pair of matches – facing off with Montana on Saturday before colliding with Montana State on Sunday. To start the weekend, NM State fell 4-1 at Montana. The Aggies then bounced back to battle on Sunday, however, they fell 4-3 at Montana State.
MATCH ONE | NM State 1, Montana 4
The Aggies began the weekend headed in the right direction as they claimed the first point at stake by earning a pair of doubles wins to enter singles play with a 1-0 lead over the Grizzlies. After dropping the match at No. 3, Valeriia Ivanovskaia and Natsuki Nishimura pulled the Aggies even with a 6-1 win at No. 2. Moments later, Anna Pinaieva and Dora Kurdisecured the doubles point as they notched a 6-3 victory over Kelsey Phillips and Hailey Murphy on the top line.
The Aggies were not quite as successful in singles action as Montana picked up four straight wins in singles play to earn the match win on its home courts. After helping pick up one of the Aggies’ doubles wins, Ivanovskaia was one of two Aggies to push her opponent to three sets – joined by Lisa Zhu who’s match ultimately went unfinished.
MATCH TWO | NM State 3, Montana State 4
One day after dropping a match to the Grizzlies, NM State traveled to Bozeman to take on the Bobcats of Montana State. In their Sunday match, the Aggies took the doubles point once again to mark the fourth time in the last five matches that the Aggies earned the doubles point.
Once again, Valeriia Ivanovskaia proved tough as they earned a 6-2 win over Paula Dougherty and Mia Ljubas at No. 2 to respond after Montana State claimed the win at No. 1. Meanwhile, Whitney Moon and Lisa Zhuearned a 7-5 win over Jazmin Lerman and Meg McCarty – winning 7-5 to pick up their first win as a tandem and give the Aggies the early edge.
In singles play, Montana State quickly erased the Aggies’ lead as they claimed wins at No. 1 and No. 4 to move in front with four matches to be decided. Anna Pinaieva earned the Aggies first win in singles play – defeating Dougherty (7-6 (7-5), 7-5) at No. 2 to even the match at two points apiece. Lisa Zhu then earned the second singles win for the Crimson and White as she knocked off McCarty at No. 3 – winning 0-6, 7-5, 6-2. Unfortunately, this would be the final point the Aggies would record as Montana State earned wins at No. 6 and No. 5 to earn the match victory.
UP NEXT
Next up, the Aggies return to their home courts to host Middle Tennessee in what will be the Aggies’ second Conference USA match of the season. The match versus the Blue Raider is set to get underway at 2:30 p.m. MT on Friday, March 29, at the NM State Tennis Center.
For complete coverage of NM State Women’s Tennis, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWTEN), Instagram (@NMStateWTEN) and like us on Facebook (NM State Women’s Tennis). You can also follow along with Aggie Women’s Tennis via NMStateSports.com.
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