LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's tennis team wrapped up the first day of action at the ITA Mountain Regional Championships on Wednesday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
 
In doubles action, Linday Harlas and Harsha Challa challenged Northern Arizona's pair of Ellie Millard and Cora-Lynn Von Dungern 'til the end but ultimately fell 8-7 (4). NM State's pair of Chloe Gavino and Gavi Kalaga were bested by Utah State's team 8-5 while Neus Torregrosa and Yadira Rubio also saw their match go in favor of their opponents, falling to Utah's pair 8-1.
 
Singles play followed that saw NM State's young team play well despite the results. Playing against Southern Utah's Jana Weiss, Harlas was bested 6-4, 6-2 in her opening-round match while Kalaga was defeated by Utah's Brianna Chrisholm 7-5, 6-2. Rubio took on Utah State's Sasha Pisareva but was bested in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. Gavino, fresh off of her Western Athletic Conference Singles Player of the Month accolade, gave Boise State's Lilian Poling a scare in the first set but eventually fell 7-5, 6-2.
 
Challa battled UNLV's Samantha Li, winning the first set 6-4, but couldn't fend off Li's rally in the second set and fell in a tightly contested third set 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8). Like Challa, Torregrosa had a back-and-forth match against Utah's Anya Lamoreaux before falling 7-5, 6-4.
 
The Aggies will get another chance tomorrow to right the ship as they play in the consolation bracket.