HONOLULU - The Hawai`i women's tennis team put up a fight but are still in search of its first dual match victory after a 5-2 loss to Western Athletic Conference foe New Mexico State, Tuesday, at the UH Tennis Complex. The Aggies clinched the victory by winning four three-set singles matches.

The Rainbow Wahine (0-15-1) got off to a fast start by winning the doubles point. The first to finish was the duo of Samanta Cappella and Julia Sandborn, who defeated Anne Fagegaltier and Violaine Rollet, 8-3, at court three. Moments later, Chloe Bihag and Florence Wasko teamed for an 8-6 win at No. 2 over Paulina Zuniga and Celine Du Fosse.

The Aggies battled back in singles competition with a 6-2, 6-1 win by Isabelle Mignot over Kana Aikawa at court one. Bihag gave the Rainbow Wahine a 2-1 match lead with a straight set 6-2, 6-1 win over Edine van Beusekom at the two-spot.

The remaining four matches went a deciding third set and the Aggies were victorious in all of them. Fagegaltier withstood Jacqui Williams, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, at the No. 3 position and Zuniga rallied for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 win over Wasko at court five. NMSU clinched the match when Rollet overcame a one-set deficit to Sandborn, 5-7, 6-0, 6-4, at the No. 6 court.

The Rainbow Wahine will next host Wisconsin-Green Bay, Friday, March 24, at 3:00 p.m.

Match Results
New Mexico State def. Hawai`i, 5-2
Singles (each match worth one team point)
1. Isabelle Mignot (NMSU) def. Kana Aikawa, 6-2, 6-1
2. Chloe Bihag def. Edine van Beusekom (NMSU), 6-2, 6-1
3. Anne Fagegaltier (NMSU) def. Jacqui Williams, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
4. Celine Du Fosse (NMSU) def. Samanta Cappella, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
5. Paulina Zuniga (NMSU) def. Florence Wasko, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
6. Violaine Rollet (NMSU) def. Julia Sandborn, 4-6, 6-0, 6-4

Doubles (must win 2 of 3 for one team point)
1. Mignot/van Beusekom (NMSU) def. Aikawa/Williams, 8-5
2. Bihag/Wasko def. Zuniga/Du Fosse (NMSU), 8-6
3. Cappella/Sandborn def. Fagegaltier/V. Rollet (NMSU), 8-3

-UH-