FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 20, 2019) – Hoping that their first home match in more than a month will get them back on the right track, the Northern Arizona women's tennis team hosts Idaho State in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex at 11 a.m. on Thursday. The Lumberjacks are on a four-match losing streak – their longest in five seasons – but they have the opportunity to turn their season around with the start of a five-match homestand.
NAU suffered its first Big Sky loss of the season on Monday at Sacramento State in a gut-wrenching 4-3 decision. The defeat was the Lumberjacks' third straight of the 4-3 variety in the last two weeks, dropping their record to 4-8 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
In each of their losses during their current skid, the 'Jacks have dropped the doubles point. The doubles point has been the decisive factor in their last three matches in which NAU split singles play with New Mexico, Fresno State and Sacramento State.
Although the Lumberjacks' No. 1 doubles pairing of junior
Chiara Tomasetti and freshman
Adrianna Sosnowska own a team-leading 7-5 record, Tomasetti and Sosnowska have dropped their last three matches. Still, the Lumberjacks' top duo is still tied for second with seven victories at No. 1 in the conference.
While Tomasetti and Sosnowska have found success at the top of NAU's doubles lineup, the Lumberjacks have recorded only eight doubles wins at the other two positions. Yet, three of NAU's four team victories this season have come when the 'Jacks have started the match by clinching the doubles point.
In singles, Tomasetti is the only player in the Big Sky with an undefeated record. After being pushed to three sets in her match last Friday against Fresno State, Tomasetti blanked her opponent from Sacramento State on Monday to increase her record to 11-0 at the No. 1 spot. Her 11 victories paces a Lumberjack lineup that may be rounding closer to full health.
Although it came in a loss, senior
Hanneke Lodewijks returned to the singles lineup versus Sacramento State at the No. 2 position, marking just her second singles match this spring. Lodewijks, a three-time All-Big Sky player, adds depth to a lineup that has been shorthanded throughout most of the spring.
Sosnowska (7-4) and freshman
Emilie Haakansson (6-4) have helped carry the load in the middle of the Lumberjacks' lineup and rank second and third respectively on the team behind Tomasetti in singles wins. Both sophomore
Ellie Millard and sophomore
Madi Moore also both secured wins during NAU's recent two-match swing through California.
NAU's open a stretch of five consecutive home matches – and eight of 10 in Flagstaff to close the season – with Idaho State, whom the Lumberjacks have not lost to since 1992. NAU has won 25 straight against Idaho State and is 26-5 all-time versus the Bengals.
The Bengals are closing a three-match stay in the state of Arizona having split their first two in the Grand Canyon State. Idaho State shut out Arizona Christian, 7-0, on Monday and lost to Grand Canyon, 4-3, on Tuesday. Idaho State is 6-7 overall and 2-3 in the Big Sky.
Megan Poe has been on a roll of late, winning her last six matches and leading the Bengals with a 9-3 singles record. She is 6-3 at the No. 6 position and is 4-1 against conference opponents. Angela Walker is 8-5 – with seven wins between the No. 4 and No. 5 spots – while Louise-Mare Botes has totaled a 7-6 record at the top of Idaho State's lineup.
As a team, Idaho State is 23-12 in doubles play with Melissa Coburn and Madison Fenske compiling a 10-2 record as a tandem. The Bengal pair leads the conference in doubles wins.
