FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Northern Arizona men's tennis team is returning from arguably one of the program's most successful years after being named the 2017 Big Sky regular season champions for the first time since 1982. The Lumberjacks were picked to finish second behind the Idaho Vandals in the Big Sky Conference, the highest ranking the 'Jacks have received in the last six years. Under Director of Tennis Ki Kroll, who is entering his fifth season with the men, the Lumberjacks have recorded winning seasons inching closer to the top of the conference with each passing year.
Fall Finish
Northern Arizona competed in seven fall tournaments including the University of Arizona Invitational, New Mexico Balloon Invitational, All-American Championships and the UNLV Easley Fall Invitational with nearly every Lumberjack on the 12-man roster getting a chance to compete.
Juniors Thomas Fisher and Tim Handel picked up winning singles records combining for 14 of the 36 overall wins. Fisher stood out with an 8-6 mark in singles, picking up the most wins for the blue and gold. In doubles, Handel paired with Ruben Montano to go 5-3 across the ITA Masters, ITA Mountain Regionals and ITA National Fall Championship tournaments. The duo, ranked No. 40, picked up their first doubles championship title at regionals after going undefeated in the tournament. Even freshman Chris Steele was able to compete notching three singles wins and seven doubles wins paired primarily with senior Felix Schumann.
"Coming off of the fall I felt confident in our guys," said Kroll. "We played very well and our hope is that it would carry on into the spring season. Over the break, they went home, worked hard, came back and are now ready to go. They have been great about it and I already feel the excitement, eagerness and readiness to compete."
A Historic Season
Northern Arizona will start the 2018 season with an experienced lineup, including four seniors in Schumann, Sebastian Eguez, Adi Zilberstein and Harun Ajanovic and two nationally ranked athletes.
The Lumberjacks will return all but one this season while adding two freshmen to the roster in Steele and Matt Fisher.
Last season the 'Jacks finished 15-8 overall and 10-1 in Big Sky action. Northern Arizona competed in the Big Sky Conference tournament falling in the semifinal.
"Getting to the tournament and being the No. 1 seed and not winning the tournament was a real disappointment to the team," Kroll said. "They realize now it takes more when you get to the tournament; anybody can win and anybody can lose a match, you have to go in more than 100 percent. It was unfortunate for us, but I don't think we were just quite there. That's the idea of losing a match like that — we learn from it."
Despite the short run in the tournament the Lumberjacks had much to be proud of. Northern Arizona end with a winning record, pulling off victories against UC Irvine, Seattle and UC Riverside in addition to bringing home the first regular season title in 35 years. Individually, then-sophomore Handel was named Big Sky MVP after going undefeated in singles and doubles with Montano and was regionally ranked No. 13 at the No. 1 position. Montano and junior Lucas Taylor also picked up Big Sky All-Conference selections.
"We are in a really good place right now going into season," Kroll said. "Before we were always the youngest team with just freshmen and sophomores and now we finally have some seniors on the team, we are complete and experienced."
Road Ahead
The Lumberjacks will begin the season with a tough non-conference schedule starting with New Mexico, Brigham Young University, Utah, Arizona, Nebraska and Oregon.
"We are playing a lot of good teams especially in the beginning of the season and the goal is to steal some wins," Kroll said. "It will be interesting to see how the team meshes this year, because everyone had a good fall, they are feeling positive and feeling good about their play."
Northern Arizona will be put to the test early before competing in their first conference matchup against the Portland State Vikings. The 'Jacks will compete in a total of 22 matches, with only six at home in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex in Flagstaff.
"We always look forward to the Big Sky teams, it's very competitive," Kroll said. "Each year the title could be won by any team. This year we are working on structuring our points a little different and as we do that the guys will continue to build their confidence and continue to get better. Now it gets more fun, because its more team based, and the guys are playing for the team — for each other."
First Up
The returning regular season champions, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks will begin competition this weekend against New Mexico in Albuquerque. The two teams will compete Saturday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. MST.
