FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University men's tennis team took down the current Big Sky leader Sacramento State this afternoon in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex with a final score of 6-1. Head Coach Ki Kroll and the 'Jacks handed the Hornets their first conference loss of the 2016 campaign to move to 9-10 overall and 5-3 in the Big Sky. Sac State drops to 9-12 overall and 7-1 in the Big Sky.

"We bounced back really well in singles," Kroll noted. "We knew how important this match was to us like any Big Sky match is. We've taken a few losses that we didn't want to take earlier this season, but now we just have to let this momentum push us forward."

Northern Arizona was just shy of walking away with the doubles point against the Hornets after Tim Handel and Eden Peleg won on court one in a 7-6(6) decision. Felix Schumann and Jackson Lee, who have dominated on court three so far this season, dropped a close one after fighting back from a 4-1 deficit. Lucas Taylor and Adi Zilberstein were on the wrong end of a run as Sac State's Donald Hall and Dom Miller would clinch the doubles point 7-6(3) on court two.

Dropping the doubles point did not phase NAU, however, as the 'Jacks were firing on all cylinders in singles play. Northern Arizona made a statement right out of the gates, winning the first set on all but one court. With the Hornets back on their heels, the Lumberjacks capitalized with a clean sweep in solo action. Taylor was the first to finish at line two and improves to 11-7 this season. Behind him was Ruben Montano, capturing his sixth victory of 2016, Peleg and Lee. Peleg took down Miller- who did not have a singles loss versus Big Sky opponents before today- in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 and Lee secured the win for NAU on court five.

Rounding out the final two of Northern Arizona's six points on the afternoon was Handel and Schumann. Handel also topped his opponent in straight sets prior to Schumann's tightly contested match on court three. The sophomore dropped the first set, but took over in the second, 6-0, and won the tiebreaker 10-5. Like Peleg, Schumann handed Joaquin Marquez his first Big Sky loss this season. Handel jumps out to 11-8 on the year while Schumann is now above .500 at 9-8.

The Lumberjacks hope to keep this momentum alive tomorrow, April 3, as they take on the University of Northern Colorado Bears at 10 a.m. The match will be held in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex; admission is free for all who attend.

Results

Doubles

1. Tim Handel/Eden Peleg (NAU) def. Mikus Losbergs/Kasparas Zemaitelis (SAC) 7-6(6)
2. Donald Hall/Dom Miller (SAC) def. Adi Zilberstein/Lucas Taylor (NAU) 7-6(3)
3. Uli Vollath/Joaquin Marquez (SAC) def. Felix Schumann/Jackson Lee (NAU) 7-6(4)

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2

Singles

1. Tim Handel (NAU) def. Mikus Losbergs (SAC) 6-1, 7-5
2. Lucas Taylor (NAU) def. Kasparas Zemaitelis (SAC) 6-2, 6-2
3. Felix Schumann (NAU) def. Joaquin Marquez (SAC) 5-7, 6-0 (10-5)
4. Eden Peleg (NAU) def. Dom Miller (SAC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Jackson Lee (NAU) def. Donald Hall (SAC) 6-1, 6-3
6. Ruben Montano (NAU) def. Uli Vollath (SAC) 6-4, 6-0

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

*Clinched the match