ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – For the first time in seven years the Northern Arizona men's tennis team started the 2018 campaign with a season-opening victory. The Lumberjacks defeated the University of New Mexico with a final score of 4-3 on the road.
"This was a great win for us today," said Director of Tennis Ki Kroll. "Everyone fought hard; it was a real team effort."
In doubles, all three courts fought to the wire with junior duo Tim Handel and Ruben Montano taking their Lobos opponent to a tiebreak falling 7-6(1) to give New Mexico the clinch. Lucas Taylor and Thomas Fisher were close behind ending the match early at 6-6 after the Lobos won the point.
"I'm so proud of these guys for digging deep down and playing to their potential," Kroll said.
Northern Arizona came back to tie the match 1-1 in singles with Sebastian Eguez's 6-3, 6-2 win at the No. 5 position.
The two regional opponents went back and forth before the 'Jacks took the lead after a 7-5, 6-4 win from Handel and a 7-6(4), 6-3 win from Fisher to put the score at 3-2.
"At 3-3 we were all tied up with one match left and Ruben [Montano] put it all on the line," Kroll said.
Montano was up against UNM's senior Sean Baklini and they each had already won a set before taking it to a third. With what his teammates would consider grit and his coach heart, Montano won the third set in a tiebreak to take the win.
"He showed the heart of this team," Kroll said, "what a great moment."
The last time the Lumberjacks started the season with a win was in 2011 when they defeated Scottsdale Community College 5-2 on the road.
The 'Jacks will take the court again next weekend in Utah. Northern Arizona will first compete against Brigham Young University Friday, Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m. before facing Utah the following day at 7 p.m.
Results
Doubles
- Jorge Escutia/Bart Van Leijsen (UNM) def. Tim Handel/Ruben Montano (NAU) 7-6(1)
- Ricky Hernandez Tong/Dominic West (UNM) def. Felix Schumann/Sebastian Eguez (NAU) 6-2
- Stepan Holis/Sean Baklini (UNM) def. Lucas Taylor/Thomas Fisher (NAU) 6-6 (unfinished)
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
- Tim Handel (NAU) def. Ricky Hernandez Tong (UNM) 7-5, 6-4
- Bart Van Leijsen (UNM) def. Lucas Taylor (NAU) 7-6(5), 6-4
- Thomas Fisher (NAU) def. Dominic West (UNM) 7-6(4), 6-3
- Jorge Escutia (UNM) def. Felix Schumann (NAU) 6-4, 6-0
- Sebastian Eguez (NAU) def. Stepan Holis (UNM) 6-3, 6-2
- Ruben Montano (NAU) def. Sean Baklini (UNM) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4)
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 1, 3, 2, 6*
*Clinched Match
