The New Mexico State Aggies women’s tennis team is adjusting after a hard-fought 4-3 loss to their in-state rivals, the New Mexico Lobos, on February 17th. The match, played at the NM State Tennis Center, went down to the wire, showcasing the fierce rivalry between these two teams.
While the Aggies ultimately came up short, head coach Sarah Collins saw plenty of positives in her team’s performance.
“It was a very tight match, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way the girls competed,” noted Collins. “We battled hard until the very end. Matches like this are invaluable for our growth. They expose areas where we need to improve and teach us how to handle pressure situations, which will be crucial as we move forward in the season.”
The Aggies started strong, securing the doubles point with wins from Lisa Zhu and Montana Parkinson-Lubold, as well as Anna Pinaieva and Nadia Nemeth. This early momentum set the stage for a potential upset, but the Lobos rallied in singles play, eventually clinching the overall victory.
“Winning the doubles point was huge for us,” Collins emphasized. “It gave us a fantastic start, and it shows the strength we have in that area. Now, we need to translate that momentum into singles, and we’ll be working hard in practice to refine our strategies.”
Despite the loss, coach Collins remains optimistic about the team’s potential. She highlighted the key takeaway from the match: “We need to improve our mental toughness and our ability to maintain consistency throughout the entire match, especially in singles. We have the talent; now we need to hone our focus and resilience.”
The Aggies have a crucial weekend ahead, facing Utah Tech on February 20th and UNLV on February 22nd. These road matches will present a significant challenge, but coach Collins believes her team is ready to embrace it.
“We’re going to use these upcoming matches as opportunities to learn and grow,” she said. “We’ll focus on strengthening our weaknesses and building on our strengths. We’re confident that we’ll come back stronger than ever.”
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