Men’s Tennis Competes in Busy First Day at UNM Balloon Invite

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sophomore Andrew Reiff advanced to the quarterfinals in the singles A draw and is part of a pair of NAU doubles teams still alive after the first day of the Balloon Fiesta Invitational hosted by the University of New Mexico. Joining Northern Arizona and the host Lobos in the eight-team tournament are players from New Mexico State, Northern Colorado, Air Force, Division-II Western New Mexico, and Junior College’s New Mexico Military Institute and Glendale Community College.

Reiff received a No. 1 seed in the singles A-draw, earning a bye in the first round before facing New Mexico State’s Craig Duran in round two. The Lumberjack sophomore would cruise to a 6-3, 6-4 victory to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal round. Also victorious in the singles A-draw for NAU were junior David Flodberg, sophomore Robin Pezzutto and freshman Patrick Schimmelbauer, who all won first-round matches before falling in the round of 32.

In the singles B-draw, freshman Kevin Taylor led the way for NAU with a pair of victories. After cruising past Northern Colorado’s Travis Day, 6-2, 6-2, the Lumberjack freshman topped William O’Connell of New Mexico Military Institute, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to the quarterfinals of the B draw. After losing first round matches, freshman Ben Lantz and sophomore Josh Brown rebounded with victories in consolation matches.

The Lumberjacks will have a pair of doubles teams in Saturday’s quarterfinals, as Reiff and Pezzutto used a first-round bye and a 9-8 (7) win over Charles Norman and Michael Wood of Glendale Community College to advance. Also moving into the quarterfinals was the pair of Flodberg and Schimmelbauer, who posted 8-1 and 8-3 victories on Friday. The NAU pairs of Brown and freshman Hugo Ramadier as well as Lantz and Taylor also won doubles matches Friday but also both took a loss.

Action continues in Albuquerque on Saturday, beginning with doubles action at 9 a.m. local time (8 a.m. Flagstaff).


Northern Arizona Results

Singles- A

Andrew Reiff (NAU) d. Craig Duran (NMSU), 6-3, 6-4
Patrick Schimmelbauer (NAU) d. Michael Wood (GCC), 6-3, 6-4
Carl Ho (UNM) d. Patrick Schimmelbauer (NAU), 6-3, 6-3
David Flodberg (NAU) d. Yair Banuelos (WNMU), 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
Cody Hall (AFA) d. David Flodberg (NAU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-0
Robin Pezzutto (NAU) d. Henning Thrien (WNMU), 6-0, 6-1
Calix Van Lier (UNC) d. Robin Pezzutto (NAU), 6-2, 6-2
Ben Dunbar (UNM) d. Hugo Ramadier (NAU), 6-3, 6-2
Hugo Ramadier (NAU) d. Kyle Lynch (WNMU), 6-4, 6-4

Singles- B

Kevin Taylor (NAU) d. Travis Day (UNC), 6-2, 6-2
Kevin Taylor (NAU) d. William O'Connell (NMMI), 6-4, 6-3
Alex Beaussart (AFA) d. Josh Brown (NAU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Josh Brown (NAU) d. Joe Garcia (GCC), 6-2, 7-5
Matt Neeld (UNM) d. Ben Lantz (NAU), 7-6, 3-6, 7-6
Ben Lantz (NAU) d. Alejandro Moncado (NMSU), 7-5, 6-3

Doubles

Pezzutto/Reiff (NAU) d. Norman/Wood (GCC), 9-8 (7)
Flodberg/Schimmelbauer (NAU) d. Edwards/Lane (UNC), 8-1
Flodberg/Schimmelbauer (NAU) d. Banuelos/Thrien (WNMU), 8-3
Brown/Ramadier (NAU) d. Hazelman/Vicencio (NMMI), 8-1
Berg/Wood (UNM) d. Brown/Ramadier (NAU), 8-4
Day/Van Lier (UNC) d. Lantz/Taylor (NAU), 8-3
Lantz/Taylor (NAU) d. Pereira/Stroman (WNMU), 8-3