LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's tennis team is slated to open Western Athletic Conference play this weekend in Phoenix for the first WAC pod hosted by Grand Canyon.
 
The Aggies head into this weekend's action 9-5 on the year, but have yet to record a true road victory (0-3). However, NM State sports an 8-2 mark in neutral matches.
 
First up for NM State will be the host, Grand Canyon, at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 24, at the GCU Tennis Facility. The Lopes enter this week's WACtion 11-9 overall on the year and 3-1 when playing at home. Like the Aggies, the Lopes went 2-1 a couple weeks back at the Golden State Invitational.
 
Lorenzo Fucile paces GCU with a 14-4 record in dual play while Francois Musitelli is 11-8 on the year. Musitelli plays at the No. 1 singles slot while Fucile predominantly plays at the No. 4 position. Grand Canyon's best doubles tandem is its No. 3 doubles team of Valentin Lang and Fucile (9-4) while its top doubles team of Philip Kuehnen and Adrian Legarreta are second with a 6-8 record.
 
Chicago State is 6-9 overall on the year so far and have won two-straight – including five of its last six matches. Its lone loss during that stretch came against Detroit Mercy, 6-1. The Cougars are 2-0 so far when playing in neutral matches and will face off against New Mexico State at noon on Saturday, March 25.
 
Christian Gonzalez has won seven-straight for CSU while Felix Antione Savard has won six of his last seven dual matches. Gonzalez has won six-straight matches at No. 2 doubles with Gonzalo Martinez while Savard and Jiri Nouza have won six of their last seven.