MOSCOW, Idaho — It was the 2017 Big Sky Conference championship rematch this morning when the Northern Arizona women's tennis team took on the three-time reigning conference champs the Idaho Vandals on Sunday, March 18.
Unlike then, Northern Arizona walked away with the victory in a close 4-3 win on the road to solidify a 2-1 record in a three-match week.
"The upperclassmen led the team and brought great energy and the freshmen pulled it out for us today," head coach
Maciej Bogusz said.
Both undefeated Big Sky teams came to compete and equally fought hard in this morning's matchup. Northern Arizona started it off with a 6-0 doubles win from
Hanneke Lodewijks and
Ellie Millard. The Vandals responded with a win of their own, defeating
Chiara Tomasetti and
Madi Moore 6-2.
Eirene Granville and
Cora-Lynn von Dungern nearly pulled it off, but not before Idaho clinched the doubles point with 7-5 win.
With the Vandals up 1-0, NAU's Von Dungern gave it her all at the No. 3 position to tie it up for the Lumberjacks with a 6-2, 6-0 win.
"Cora-Lynn [Von Dungern] put us on the board and played her best tennis yet," said Bogusz.
The Vandals responded with a win of their own from reigning MVP Marianna Petrei 6-3, 6-0.
But yet again the Lumberjacks hung on with freshman Millard coming back to win after falling in her first set. Idaho then notched their third point, only to be overcome by the 'Jacks with Granville's 6-3, 7-6 win and Moore's 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 win.
"Ellie [Millard] and Madi [Moore] showed so much grit winning in tiebreaks in their third sets, especially Moore who was two match points down in her tiebreak to then come back and win not only her court, but clinch the match for us. This win was a true team effort and an amazing college tennis match."
With this win Northern Arizona is one of two Big Sky teams to remain undefeated; the Lumberjacks at 5-0 and the Idaho State Bengals at 3-0. Overall, the 'Jacks are 10-3 and are looking to face Southern Utah, Montana State and Northern Colorado in another three-match week starting March 27.
