NAU Ends the Regular Season on a High Note
/ April 19, 2015
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona men's tennis team ended the season sending off their seniors with a win over Portland State in their final home match of the season. Both seniors, Kester Black and Jordan Gobatie, won both of their matches as the Lumberjacks took down the Vikings 6-1 to end the regular season with a 9-12 record and a 7-4 record in the Big Sky.
"Today was a really nice day for the seniors and they worked extremely hard today," said head coach Ki Kroll. "We had some really big wins today and we will need to carry that momentum going into the Big Sky Championships."
NAU was impressive throughout doubles play on all three courts as NAU had a 5-2 lead on all three courts at the same time. First to finish was Gobatie and Alexandre Locci on court one with a 6-2 win over Ian Risenhoover and Wil Cochrane. Clinching the doubles point for the Lumberjacks was Black and Felix Schumann with a 6-3 victory over Stuart Tierney and Nacor Ibanez.
On senior day it was only fitting that a senior would clinch the match for NAU as the Lumberjacks were up 3-1 on the Vikings and the native of Scotland pulled out a three-set win to give NAU the win. Black took down Wil Cochrane 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 for his 11th win of the season.
"To clinch the match on senior day feels unbelievable," said Black. "Today was a little emotional being my lost home match in my career but now our focus is towards the tournament and hopefully some wins at the tournament will be a nice way to end my career."
Black clinched the match for the Lumberjacks and closing out the match was fellow senior Gobatie with a tough three-set match against Stuart Tierney. After dropping the first set 4-6, Gobatie was determined to end his career in Flagstaff on a high note and stormed back in the final two sets to take down Tierney 7-4, 1-0 (10-6).
With the win, Northern Arizona locks up the final seed in the Big Sky Championships. As the sixth seed, NAU will face Idaho in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Sacramento, Calif. which begins on April 24 hosted by Sacramento State.
Results
Doubles
- Jordan Gobatie/Alexandre Locci (NAU) def. Ian Risenhoover/Wil Cochrane (PSU) 6-2
- Adi Zilberstein/Eden Peleg (NAU) def. Ethan Lopez/Brent Wheeler (PSU) 5-2 unfinished
- Felix Schumann/Kester Black (NAU) def. Stuart Tierney/Nacor Ibanez (PSU) 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
- Jordan Gobatie (NAU) def. Stuart Tierney (PSU) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-6)
- Alexandre Locci (NAU) def. Ethan Lopez (PSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
- Kester Black (NAU) def. Wil Cochrane (PSU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
- Eden Peleg (NAU) def. Brent Wheeler (PSU) 6-4, 6-4
- Felix Schumann (NAU) def. Ian Risenhoover (PSU) 6-1, 6-3
- Matt Pronesti (PSU) def. Adi Zilberstein (NAU) 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 6, 3, 2, 1