LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Northern Arizona men's tennis team capped off their best weekend of the 2015 season in Las Cruces going up against New Mexico State. The Lumberjacks backs were against the wall being down 3-1 but NAU was able to come from behind to defeat the Aggies 4-3 ending the perfect 2-0 weekend. NAU is now 2-2 this season.

"Today was a solid performance," said head coach Ki Kroll. "I am very proud of my guys because today it took real fortitude to come out with a victory."

This was Northern Arizona's first come from behind win this season, being down 3-1, then NAU stormed back with wins from courts two, five and four to pull out their second straight victory. With the match on the line, 3-3, it came down to the deciding match on court four between Northern Arizona's Jordan Gobatie and the Aggie's Germain Degardin in a three-set match. Gobatie's back was against the wall dropping the first set 7-5 to Degardin but Gobatie showed some grit forcing a third set coming away with the 6-3 win in set two. Looking to clinch the win for the Lumberjacks, Gobatie was able to defeat Degardin in a tough 7-5 winning the third set, giving NAU the perfect 2-0 weekend.

"I have struggled to find my game this season but I felt more on point today," said Gobatie. "Today I was able to maintain my composure and win. I am starting to feel a lot better on the court."

NAU came out winning the doubles point to start out the match with wins on courts one and two. Kester Black and Adi Zilberstein had the task of going up against the No. 8 doubles team in the ITA Mountain Region in Strahinja Trecakov and Patrick Pfister but on Saturday Zilberstein and Black looked like they deserved a region ranking defeating the New Mexico State duo 6-0. Clinching the doubles point for the Lumberjacks was Alexandre Locci and Jordan Gobatie on court two with a 6-3 win over Paul Denele and Christofer Goncalves.

When the Lumberjacks were down 3-1 in the match, Black got NAU a win to cut the Aggie's lead to just one with a win on court two. Black was able to defeat the No. 19 player in the Mountain Region, Liam Goldberg, in a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 match. Tying the match for NAU was freshman Felix Schumann in another three-set match, this time over New Mexico State's Denele. Schumann took the first set 7-5 but Denele came back in the second set 6-4 to force a third set. The German native came up clutch in the third set with a 6-3, giving NAU its third win of the day.

NAU will be back in action next Saturday, Feb. 21, when they travel back to New Mexico for a matchup against the University of New Mexico and also against Air Force.

Results

Doubles

1. Adi Zilberstein/Kester Black (NAU) def. Strahinja Trecakov/Patrick Pfister (NMSU) 6-0
2. Alexandre Locci/Jordan Gobatie (NAU) def. Paul Denele/Christofer Goncalves (NMSU) 6-3
3. Germain Degardin/Charles Baron (NMSU) vs. Felix Schumann/Eden Peleg (NAU) 5-4 DNF 

Order of Finish: 1, 2

Singles

1. Strahinja Trecakov  (NMSU) def. Eden Peleg (NAU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Kester Black (NAU) def. Liam Goldberg (NMSU) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
3. Christofer Goncalves (NMSU) def. Alexandre Locci (NAU) 7-6 (5), 6-3
4. Jordan Gobatie (NAU) def. Germain Degardin (NMSU) 5-7, 6-3, 7-5
5. Felix Schumann (NAU) def. Paul Denele (NMSU)  7-5, 4-6, 6-3
6. Patrick Pfister (NMSU) def. Adi Zilberstein (NAU) 6-1, 6-2

Order of Finish: 1, 6, 3, 2, 5, 4