FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University women's tennis team, coming off a solid victory versus Florida Gulf Coast last week, responded to everything University of Northern Colorado threw at them today (March 19) to pull out a 4-3 victory in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex. Four singles victories got the job done for NAU, including senior Jordan Denesik's match-clinching performance at court five.

"We came back from doubles and fought hard; I have to give our girls credit for that," Head Coach Kim Bruno said. "We have to continue to improve and clean up a few things here and there, but this was a hard-fought victory today that we have to feel good about."

After today's win over the preseason eighth Bears, Northern Arizona jumps out to a 9-6 overall record and is now 4-1 in Big Sky matches. Northern Colorado was able to set the tone in doubles play as it walked away with wins on courts one and two. Doubles tandem Beth Coton and Remi Immler, who were ranked No. 40 in the country earlier this season, brought their 'A' game to beat Hanneke Lodewijks and Blanka Szavay 6-3 to clinch the doubles point.

In singles, Lodewijks handled her opponent in straight sets to tie the match up at 1-1. However, Northern Colorado never went away, picking up back-to-back victories over Marta Lewandowska on court three and Hailey Rochin on court four. The Bears led 3-1 before Szavay, playing No. 2 singles, and freshman Eirene Granville, playing No. 6 singles, both won in straight sets. The match then fell onto the shoulders of Denesik, who was actually down a set to UNC's Anna Battersby by the time Szavay and Granville finished.

"The way Jordan [Denesik] performs really shows how much she cares about this program," Bruno said. "She fought harder and harder every point and that's what it came down to. She outfought Battersby. That's something she has done for us all season long, so I'm excited it was her that was able to pull this one out for our team."

Denesik had to claw from behind on numerous occasions, but the senior made no doubt her team would pick up the victory. After dropping the first set 6-2, and being down in the second set by as many as two points, she found a way to take the second one 7-5. With all the momentum in Denesik's favor, she rounded out the final set, 6-2, to seal the victory for NAU.

Results

Doubles

1. Beth Coton/Remi Immler (UNC) def. Hanneke Lodewijks/Blanka Szavay (NAU) 6-3
2. Courtney Schulte/Hilary Walters-West (UNC) def. Hailey Rochin/Emelia Box (NAU) 6-2
3. Marta Lewandowska/Jordan Denesik (NAU) vs. Anna Battersby/Marissa Baca (UNC) 3-5, unfinished

Order of Finish: 2, 1

Singles

1. Hanneke Lodewijks (NAU) def. Lea Krajcovicova (UNC) 6-2, 6-1
2. Blanka Szavay (NAU) def. Beth Coton (UNC) 6-4, 6-3
3. Hilary Walters-West (UNC) def. Marta Lewandowska (NAU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Marissa Baca (UNC) def. Hailey Rochin (NAU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Jordan Denesik (NAU) def. Anna Battersby (UNC) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Eirene Granville (NAU) def. Remi Immler (UNC) 6-1, 6-4

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

*Clinched the match