FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University men's tennis team dropped what would have been its fifth straight victory over Loyola Marymount University this afternoon with a final score of 5-2 in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex. The Lumberjacks are now 4-7 after today's loss and Loyola Marymount improves to 3-4 overall. Two freshmen in Tim Handel and Lucas Taylor headlined the action picking up singles wins on courts one and two respectively.

"I liked how even when we were down, we kept fighting," Head Coach Ki Kroll said. "Lucas Taylor and Tim Handel are perfect examples of that. It goes to show that we can compete with anyone. I thought we kept high energy all the way through; we have to continue to build and improve every day."

With sophomore Eden Peleg out of the lineup, Taylor was paired with Thomas Fisher for the first time this season. The duo fell at line two in doubles as did Felix Schumann and Jackson Lee on court three. However, Lee/Schumann are still 4-1 overall. At No. 1 doubles, Handel and Ruben Montano's match went unfinished, although they led 5-4 before it was called.

Handel and Taylor were the last Lumberjacks to finish in singles play, but each picked up their fifth and sixth wins of the season. For Taylor, today's victory over Loyola Marymount's Errol Smith marks his fifth straight win at No. 2 singles. The freshman clawed back after being down a set and finished on top with a final score of 4-6, 6-3, 13-11. Handel also took down his opponent in three sets to give Northern Arizona its first of two points. In his rookie season, Handel is 5-6 overall on court one, also stringing together five consecutive wins.

The 'Jacks will hit the road for University of Idaho and Eastern Washington this weekend as they are set to face the Vandals on Saturday, March 5 and the Eagles on Sunday, March 6.

Results

Doubles

1. Tim Handel/Ruben Montano (NAU) vs. Errol Smith/Joat Farah (LMU) 5-4, unfinished
2. Cristobal Rivera/Charles Boyce (LMU) def. Thomas Fisher/Lucas Taylor (NAU) 6-1
3. Luke Bohuslav/Lukas Moenter (LMU) def. Felix Schumann/Jackson Lee (NAU) 6-3

Order of Finish: 2, 3

Singles

1. Tim Handel (NAU) def. Charles Boyce (LMU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
2. Lucas Taylor (NAU) def. Errol Smith (LMU) 4-6, 6-3, 13-11
3. Cristobal Rivera (LMU) def. Felix Schumann (NAU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Joat Farah (LMU) def. Ruben Montano (NAU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Luke Bohuslav (LMU) def. Jackson Lee (NAU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Lukas Moenter (LMU) def. Thomas Fisher (NAU) 3-6. 6-1, 6-3

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