SACRAMENTO, Calif. (March 18, 2019) – Unfortunately for the Northern Arizona women's tennis team, Monday morning's match versus conference rival Sacramento State followed a familiar script. The Lumberjacks managed to split singles play with the Hornets, but dropping the doubles point proved to be an obstacle in a third consecutive 4-3 loss.
"It wasn't the best day for us, but all we can do here is take the positives learn from the mistakes and keep moving forward while working hard," said head coach
Ewa Bogusz. "We are looking forward to playing at home this week."
The defeat snapped NAU's 32-match Big Sky regular season winning streak as the 'Jacks slipped to 1-1 in conference play. NAU is now 4-8 overall, but will play eight of its last 10 matches at home starting with Thursday's Big Sky tilt versus Idaho State in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex.
Junior
Chiara Tomasetti, freshman
Emilie Haakansson and sophomore
Madi Moore collected singles wins for the Lumberjacks versus the Hornets and NAU actually led 3-2 with two singles matches remaining. However, Sacramento State picked up wins at No. 3 and 4 singles to cap a rally and notch its first conference victory of the spring.
Moore and Haakansson put NAU ahead in doubles play with a 6-3 win over Carolina Chernyetsky and Frana Ugarkovic at No. 3, but the Hornets stung the 'Jacks by stealing the doubles point. Sacramento State won at No. 1 and No. 2 – both by 6-3 scores – to put NAU in the 1-0 hole going into singles action.
Tomasetti moved into a tie for 10th all-time in career singles dual wins with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Chernyetsky at No. 1 to give NAU its first point. Tomasetti's victory on Monday was her 47th of her career and ran her dual record to 11-0 this spring.
Sacramento State reclaimed a 2-1 lead with an easy win at No. 2 singles, but Haakansson answered with an easy win of her at No. 5 to tie the score once again. Haakansson defeated Sofi Wicker, 6-2, 6-0.
NAU leapt in front, 3-2, courtesy of Moore's straight set win against Ugarkovic at No. 6. Moore battled in the first set before cruising in the second set to win 7-5, 6-1.
The Hornets evened the match with a win at No. 4 singles setting up a winner-take-all match on the third court where sophomore
Ellie Millard was locked up with Jayden Nielsen. Although Millard won the first set, Nielsen ultimately propelled the Hornets to the come-from-behind victory by defeating Millard, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
NAU hopes a return to Flagstaff will reverse its recent fortunes when it hosts Idaho State at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex.
Results:
Doubles:
