TUCSON, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University men's tennis team hit the road for Tucson, Ariz. to face No. 69 University of Arizona with nothing to lose. The Lumberjacks certainly gave the Wildcats their best shot despite falling 5-2. Doubles teams Felix Schumann/Jackson Lee and Eden Peleg/Lucas Taylor won the doubles point for NAU and freshman Lucas Taylor also captured a win in singles play to tie up the match early on 2-2.

"We fought hard today against a very solid Arizona team," Kroll said. "I was very happy with our doubles performance and starting off on the right foot. We will definitely need to build on today."

It was only a matter of time before facing one ranked opponent and two undefeated programs prior to today's match would begin to pay off for the Lumberjacks. Northern Arizona had the Wildcats on their heels right from the get-go, snatching the doubles point and taking a 1-0 lead. Doubles pair Schumann and Lee took down Trent Botha and Harry Busby 6-3 to kick things off before Peleg and Taylor defeated Trevor James and Oliver Plaskett 6-4 to secure the doubles point.

After Handel and freshman Ruben Montano dropped their singles matches at No. 1 and No. 3 respectively, Taylor was able to tie the match up, 2-2, after topping Busby in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 on court two. Schumann stole the second set from Arizona's Botha 6-4, but would eventually drop a hard-fought match with the final score of 7-6(10), 4-6, 6-2.

The Lumberjacks will hit the road yet again for California where they will face No. 70 UC Irvine and UC Riverside on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 before returning home to face Western New Mexico on Feb. 21.

Results

Doubles

1. Shoki Kasahara/Naoki Takeda (ARIZ) vs. Tim Handel/Ruben Montano (NAU)  unfinished
2. Eden Peleg/Lucas Taylor (NAU) def. Trevor James/Oliver Plaskett (ARIZ) 6-4
3. Felix Schumann/Jackson Lee (NAU) def. Trent Botha/Harry Busby (ARIZ) 6-3

Order of Finish: 3, 2

Singles

1. #102 Naoki Takeda (ARIZ) def. Tim Handel (NAU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Lucas Taylor (NAU) def.  Harry Busby (ARIZ) 6-4, 6-3
3. Jason Jaruvang (ARIZ) def. Ruben Montano (NAU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Trent Botha (ARIZ) def. Felix Schumann (NAU) 7-6(10), 4-6, 6-2
5. Will Kneale (ARIZ) def. Eden Peleg (NAU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Oliver Plaskett (ARIZ) def. Thomas Fisher (NAU) 6-1, 6-2

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