FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University women's tennis team won its fifth straight match after taking down the University of Montana Grizzlies 6-1 this afternoon, March 27, in the Aquatic  and Tennis Complex. The Lumberjacks are now 12-6 overall including a 6-1 mark in conference play. With just six matches remaining before the Big Sky Conference Tournament at the end of April, Head Coach Kim Bruno hopes to keep this momentum alive moving forward.

"Our goal is to secure that No. 1 seed and that isn't going to be easy," Bruno said. "Moving forward, we have to continue to have the confidence we did today to finish really strong. We've just outfought teams up to this point. We're down match points, find ourselves in tie-breakers, and we are still finding ways to win. That's something you can't teach."

Despite a slow doubles start for Jordan Denesik and Marta Lewandowska on court three, the two rallied from behind to beat Lidia Dukic and Stanzi Stuijt 6-4. The 'Jacks looked to courts one and two next- featuring tie breakers on both- to close out doubles action. After being down by as many as three points (5-2), Hanneke Lodewijks and Blanka Szavay fired off four straight points to avoid defeat. Meanwhile on court two, Hailey Rochin and Eirene Granville found themselves in a back-and-forth battle, but would finish on top with a final score of 7-6(10-8).

Singles were a little less nerve wracking as Granville and Szavay were the first two to pick up wins, in straight sets, on courts six and two respectively. Granville holds a perfect 5-0 clip against Big Sky opponents and is 9-4 overall in her rookie season. Szavay also made no doubt against Montana's Lidia Dukic taking her down in an impressive 6-1, 6-2 finish.  The sophomore jumps out to 10-7 on the season and 6-1 versus Big Sky foes.

Rounding out singles wins were Denesik, Lewandowska and Lodewijks. Denesik is now 11-6 overall and 7-0 in Big Sky solo matches. She ousted Catherine Orfanos 6-4, 6-4 before Lewandowska took down Hannah Sulz on court three 6-2, 6-3. Lodewijks captured the final point for NAU at line one. The freshman breezed past Francis Dean in the first set 6-3, but found herself in a tight second set that she would go on to win. Lodewijks moves to 7-6 on the season and 5-1 in the Big Sky.

The Lumberjacks will head south to face No. 19 Arizona State this Monday, March 28. The Sun Devils are 10-4 on the season and 4-1 in the Pac-12. Match time is set for 10 a.m. in Tempe.

Results

Doubles

1. Blanka Szavay/Hanneke Lodewijks (NAU) vs. Hannah Sulz/Cam Kincaid (UM) 6-6, unfinished
2. Hailey Rochin/Eirene Granville (NAU) def. Francis Dean/Catherine Orfanos (UM) 7-6(10-8)
3. Marta Lewandowska/Jordan Denesik (NAU) def. Lidia Dukic/ Stanzi Stuijt (UM) 6-4

Order of Finish: 3, 2

Singles

1. Hanneke Lodewijks (NAU) vs. Francis Dean (UM) 6-3, 7-6(8-6)
2. Blanka Szavay (NAU) def. Lidia Dukic (UM) 6-1, 6-2
3. Marta Lewandowska (NAU) def. Hannah Sulz (UM) 6-2, 6-3
4. Cam Kincaid (UM) def. Hailey Rochin (NAU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Jordan Denesik (NAU) def. Catherine Orfanos (UM) 6-4, 6-4
6. Eirene Granville (NAU) def. Stanzi Stuijt (UM) 6-2, 6-2

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