FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 11, 2019) – The Northern Arizona men's tennis team will be finishing its seven-game homestand with a double header on Saturday, April 13 and a doubleheader on Sunday, April 14. The Saturday matches will be against the University of Idaho and Mesa Community College, while the Sunday matches will both be against Western New Mexico. The final match on Sunday will be NAU's senior day, in which the team will be honoring its five seniors. The seniors are
Justin Bac,
Tom Fisher,
Tim Handel,
Ruben Montano, and
Lucas Taylor.
"We have a big match on Saturday against the conference defending champion, the University of Idaho," NAU head coach
Maciej Bogusz. "I know our five seniors are looking forward to having strong showings for their last matches at home; it will be a fun weekend."
The Lumberjacks will be entering the weekend riding a program record 12 match winning streak and have a record of 15-6 on the season while being 9-0 in the Big Sky. The 9-0 mark has been good enough for the 'Jacks to clinch the regular season Big Sky Championship and have locked up a spot in the Big Sky Championship following the regular season.
In singles, the Lumberjacks top player is Handel who is currently ranked No. 82 in the country. The senior is 18-1 on the season. The 18 wins are not only a team high, but it also leads the Big Sky. Following Handle in wins is Montano and
Facundo Tumosa who both have 13 wins. Montano plays at either the No. 5 or 6, while Tumosa plays mainly at the No. 4 position.
In doubles, Northern Arizona duos have 69.2 winning percentage on the season. The 'Jacks No. 1 and No. 2 doubles both have 12 wins on the season. The No.1 tandem of Handel and Montano are 12-5 on the season, while the No. 2 pair of
Chris Steele and Fisher are 12-7 on the season. The Lumberjacks No. 3 doubles team of Taylor and Tumosa are 11-4 on the season.
Matchups
Idaho will be entering the match on April 13 with a record of 5-11 on the season and a record of 2-4 in the Big Sky. In the Vandals last match they lost to Idaho State 1-6.
Idaho's top singles player is Carlos Longhi Neto, who holds a record of 5-9 on the season. The Vandals with the most wins are Bruno Casino and Esteban Santibanez who both have 7.
In doubles, Idaho has had two different pairs at the No. 1 position, Neto and Santibanez and Neto and Lucas Coutinho. The tandem with the most wins is Santibanez and Valentin Popescu who have a record of 6-2.
Mesa Community college is entering the weekend match with a record of 8-3 on the season. The Thunderbirds are currently riding a three-match winning streak.
The final matches will be against Western New Mexico who currently has a record of 5-10, but are coming off a loss to Cameron on March 20.
