TEMPE, Ariz. (January 20, 2019) – The first dual match of the spring brought its fair share of adversity to the Northern Arizona women's tennis team, but the Lumberjacks were able to overcome it in a 4-3 victory over UC Davis on Sunday at the Whiteman Tennis Center. NAU (1-0) won four of the five singles matches contested to snap a four-match losing streak to UC Davis dating back to 2008.
"We showed a lot of toughness today," said head coach
Ewa Bogusz. "We overcame some adversity and it's a lot of fun to be around a team that is so resilient. Our freshmen played their first dual match and Emilie (Haakansson) was able to clinch it. This was a great start to the season."
Freshman
Emilie Haakansson clinched the Lumberjacks' first win over the Aggies since 2008 with her three-set win at No. 3. Haakansson's 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win versus Shirley Hall followed junior
Chiara Tomasetti's own three-set win, 6-1, 2-6, 6-0, over Nikia Pradeep at No. 1.
The Lumberjacks fell behind 1-0 in the match after the Aggies took the doubles point. After NAU forfeited on the third court, Tomasetti and freshman
Adrianna Sosnowska evened up doubles play with a 6-4 victory at No. 1 versus Kelsie Bryant and Sara Tsukamoto.
The doubles point wound up coming down to the second court where UC Davis' Pradeep and Hall defeated Haakansson and sophomore
Ellie Millard, 7-5.
UC Davis snagged a 2-0 match lead courtesy of an NAU forfeit at No. 6 singles, but NAU went to work from there. Sophomore
Madi Moore got the 'Jacks on the board by virtue of an easy 6-3, 6-1 win over Skyler Holm at No. 5. Sosnowska followed up with a straight set 7-6, 6-2 win at No. 4 versus Jessica Walker.
With the match tied at 2-2, Tomasetti gave the Lumberjacks the edge with the first of two NAU three-set victories. Haakansson, in her first career dual match, completed the comeback as NAU overcame its 2-0 deficit. UC Davis finished the match by winning in three sets at No. 2 singles.
The Lumberjacks had dropped four straight to the Aggies after winning the first all-time meeting 11 years ago.
NAU will be right back in action on Monday versus Arizona State at 11 a.m. at the Whiteman Tennis Center. The Sun Devils are 2-0 this spring after shutting out UC Davis and Drake, both by 4-0 scores, on Saturday.
Results:
Doubles:
- Chiara Tomasetti/Adrianna Sosnowska (NAU) def. Kelsie Bryant/Sara Tsukamoto (UCD), 6-4
- Nikita Pradeep/Shirley Hall (UCD) def. Ellie Millard/Emilie Haakansson (NAU), 7-5*
- Isabella von Ebbe/Jessica Walker (UCD) def. NAU, by forfeit
*Clinched Doubles Point | Order of Finish: (3, 1, 2)
Singles:
- No. 75 Chiara Tomasetti (NAU) def. Nikita Pradeep (UCD), 6-1, 2-6, 6-0
- Sara Tsukamoto (UCD) def. Ellie Millard (NAU), 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
- Emilie Haakansson (NAU) def. Shirley Hall (UCD), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2**
- Adrianna Sosnowska (NAU) def. Jessica Walker (UCD), 7-6, 6-2
- Madi Moore (NAU) def. Skyler Holm (UCD), 6-3, 6-1
- Kelsie Bryant (UCD) def. NAU, by forfeit
**Clinched Match | Order of Finish: (6, 5, 4, 1, 3, 2)
