LAS CRUCES – The New Mexico State men's tennis team looks to right its ship this weekend and get back on the win column when they head north to play in the 2nd Annual Mountain Pacific Invitational, hosted by the University of New Mexico.
 
The two-day tournament will pit eight teams from the mountain and pacific regions against one another in a bracket format. Teams in the field include: No. 58 Pacific, Hawai'i, No. 71 Utah State, Santa Clara, Grand Canyon, San Francisco and the host, No. 63 New Mexico.
 
First up for NM State will be Utah State, who is ranked No. 71 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. USU, also known as the Aggies, are 11-4 on the year and is riding a four-match win-streak into the two-day tournament.
 
Prior to its 4-0 loss to No. 10 Texas Tech, USU had won six-straight matches and only gave up two points that entire time. All six players that predominantly play for Utah State have registered double-digit wins in singles, while three of the six are tied for the team lead with 16 victories. However, of those three, only Luis Lopez (10-1) and Jack Swindells (10-4) have recorded double-digit wins in dual play.
 
In doubles play, Lopez and Andrew Nakajima (10-8) are tied for the team lead with Jonas Maier and Swindells.
 
On the same side of the bracket with NM State and USU are Pacific and Hawai'i. The Tigers are the highest-ranked team in the invitational, checking in at No. 58 in latest ITA rankings with a 6-6 mark. The Rainbow Warriors enter this weekend's matches with a 1-7 mark in dual play. UH has lots seven-straight since opening its dual season with a 4-3 win over Sacramento State.