GOLD RIVER, Calif. – The Northern Arizona University women's tennis team fell 4-0 to the University of Idaho this afternoon, May 1, in the Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship. Despite the loss, Northern Arizona had one of its best seasons in school history finishing 18-8 overall and notching the program's first-ever Big Sky Regular Season Co-Championship. The 2016 campaign becomes Head Coach Kim Bruno's winningest season since she was hired in 2006.

"One match isn't going to define us as we accomplished a lot this year," Bruno said. "Our team has to be proud of that. Obviously we didn't come here to do this, but it is what it is and we have to hang our hats on what we did accomplish."

Idaho jumped out to a quick lead in doubles action after the 'Jacks were forced to retire at court two due to injury. Blanka Szavay and Hanneke Lodewijks, at No. 1 doubles, were out in front before Idaho rallied on court three to secure the doubles point. Bruno entered sophomore Livia Hollosy into the lineup in place of Hailey Rochin going into singles play.

Lodewijks and Szavay looked as strong as they have all season, both winning their first sets on courts one and two respectively. With Rochin out of the singles lineup, Jordan Denesik and Eirene Granville played on courts four and five as opposed to five and six where they've made a splash all season long. Idaho was able to strike on courts three, four and six to win its second straight Big Sky Championship.

Lodewijks was entering her third set, Granville was on pace to win her second and Szavay was one point away from putting NAU on the board before the Vandals completed the 4-0 sweep. Denesik finished her final season as a Lumberjack with a team-best 17-7 singles record, and Szavay was close behind at 16-8 overall. Szavay and Lodewijks concluded the year with a stellar 14-4 record in doubles action.

"It's hard to focus on what's ahead of us already because this one stings," Bruno noted. "But when we come back next year we'll know that we don't want to feel like this again. With the talent we having coming in, and the talent we're bringing back, we have to be hopeful."

Northern Arizona's Denesik will be a tough one to replace, but Bruno and the 'Jacks return the core of their squad for next season. With now seven runner-up finishes since 2006, NAU will seek its first Big Sky Championship since 1999 heading into next season.

Results

Doubles

1. Hanneke Lodewijks/Blanka Szavay (NAU) vs. Ana Batiri/Belen Barcenilla (UI) 3-2, unfinished
2. Rita Bermudez/Maria Tavares (UI) def. Hailey Rochin/Eirene Granville (NAU) 15-30, ret. inj.
3. Lucia Badillos/Marianna Petrei (UI) def. Jordan Denesik/Marta Lewandowska (NAU)  6-0

Order of finish: 2, 3

Singles

1. Hanneke Lodewijks (NAU) vs. Marianna Petrei (UI) 6-2, 0-6, unfinished
2. Blanka Szavay (NAU) vs. Rita Bermudez (UI) 6-2, 5-4, unfinished
3. Ana Batiria (UI) def. Marta Lewandowksa (NAU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Belen Barcenilla (UI) def. Jordan Denesik (NAU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Eirene Granville (NAU) vs. Maria Tavares (UI) 4-6, 3-2, unfinished
6. Maria Tavares (UI) def. Livia Hollosy (NAU) 6-4, 6-2

Order of finish: 3, 6, 4*

*Clinched the match