FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University women's tennis team will trek to Pullman, Wash. to play against Big Sky Conference foe University of Idaho on Friday, Feb. 5 and later face Seattle University and host school Washington State on Saturday, Feb. 6. The Lumberjacks will finish out the weekend at Eastern Washington on Sunday, Feb. 7.

"Starting off with Idaho, we're hungry to win that match and want revenge for what happened here last year," Head Coach Kim Bruno said. "The girls have to be ready to compete. I'm glad we got a win under our belt this past weekend against a team that is similar to Idaho. Our team knows what Big Sky matches mean and I'm hoping we can put our best foot forward on the road."

After snagging a win against Southern Illinois this past weekend (Jan. 31), NAU is ready to make some noise in its first two Big Sky matchups of the year. The 'Jacks will start and end their weekend against Big Sky opponents, playing Seattle and Pac-12 school Washington State in between. Bruno and her squad will surely be put to the test playing four straight matches in a three-day span.

"It's not easy to play four matches in three days," Bruno said. "I'm asking a lot of these girls early on and I think it's important that we get tough really quick. At the same time, we have the depth to do it. We can rotate through some girls and give others an opportunity to step up as well."

Highlight Reel

In a gutsy 4-3 finish against the Salukis, doubles pair Hanneke Lodewijks and Blanka Szavay captured their first doubles win of 2016. Both Lumberjacks competed in the fall for the first time in an NAU uniform, as Lodewijks is just a freshman and Szavay sat out last season due to transfer rules. The two also picked up a win over University of New Mexico to remain perfect on the year. As of Jan. 5, they sit at No. 6 in the Mountain Region doubles rankings.

Weekend Scout

The Vandals

Match Day: Friday, Feb. 5

Match Time: 4 p.m.

Idaho steps into the weekend with a 1-2 overall record and 1-0 start in Big Sky play. The Vandals took down Montana for the first time since 2009 on Jan. 17, with their two losses coming from Pac-12 programs Washington State and University of Oregon.  Head Coach Mariana Cobra brings back one all-conference honorable mention selection in Senior Belen Barcenilla, who is currently 1-1 in singles play on court three. As a team, Idaho was preseason picked second among Big Sky opponents.

The Redhawks

Match Day: Saturday, Feb. 6

Match Time: 3 p.m.

Seattle, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, is currently 2-3 with its most recent victory coming over Colorado State. Northern Arizona will be the second Big Sky opponent the Redhawks will have faced this year, as they fell to Eastern Washington on Jan. 10. Seattle returns the 2015 WAC Freshman of the Year Michelle Lui. The sophomore has won her last two matches at number one singles.

The Cougars

Match Day: Saturday, Feb. 6

Match Time: 7 p.m.

Washington State has yet to drop a match this season with its most recent wins all coming over Big Sky programs Montana State, Idaho, Montana and Eastern Washington. The Cougars have only lost a combined two singles matches in 2016 while winning 34. Sophomore Donika Bashota is 6-0 this season in singles play and ranks No. 83 nationally. Washington State also returns Trang Huynh for her final season, who garnered a No. 15 regional ranking following the fall campaign.

The Eagles

Match Day: Sunday, Feb. 7

Match Time: 4 p.m.

Northern Arizona will be Eastern Washington's second Big Sky matchup of the year. The Eagles come into the weekend with a 4-2 overall record, winning three straight duals over Montana, Nevada and Whitman. The Eagles other win came over Seattle on Jan. 10. In the Big Sky preseason coaches' poll, Eastern Washington was picked to finished 10^th.

On Deck

Following this weekend's (Feb. 5-7) full slate of matches, the Lumberjacks will face No. 65 University of Arizona on Saturday, Feb. 13 and Portland State on Sunday, Feb. 14.  

Fall Rewind

Northern Arizona competed in six fall tournaments over the span of two months at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of Arizona, ITA Mountain Regionals in Las Vegas, Nev., University of New Mexico, Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University. All 10 Lumberjacks saw action this fall, four finishing with a winning singles record in senior Jordan Denesik, junior Sara Brown, and freshmen Hanneke Lodewijks and Eirene Granville.

In doubles play, sophomore Blanka Szavay and Lodewijks recorded an impressive 6-3 finish in doubles play. In their first appearance together, the duo upset No. 41 Ole Miss at the UNLV Fall Invitational in September. Granville also finished third in that same tournament. Juniors Marta Lewandowska and Hailey Rochin were also a force to be reckoned with on the doubles end. The pair finished with a 5-3 overall record.