LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 3, 2019) – The Northern Arizona men's team's historic season reached its end Friday afternoon with a 4-0 loss to No. 8 USC in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Lumberjacks' season closes with a 22-7 overall record and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance.
The 21-time National Champion Trojans halted the Lumberjacks' school record 19-match winning streak by taking the doubles point and winning three singles matches at No. 1, 2 and 6 in straight sets. USC advances to the second round to face San Diego at Marks Stadium.
"We left it all on the court and that's all we could ask for," said head coach
Maciej Bogusz. "What a way for our five seniors to finish their college careers by playing the team with the most tennis national championships. I'm happy that they got this experience and for getting to the NCAA Tournament."
USC claimed the doubles point with victories at No. 2, 6-0, and No. 3, 6-2, but seniors
Tim Handel and
Ruben Montano hung tough with the Trojans' No. 1 pair. Handel and Montano battled Brandon Holt and Riley Smith – the No. 10 nationally-ranked doubles pair – and trailed just 4-3 when doubles play was called.
Although NAU fought hard in singles, USC's powerhouse lineup featuring four top-60 players flexed their muscle on their home court. Holt, ranked No. 6 nationally, took down Handel, 6-1, 6-1, on the first court to put the Trojans ahead 2-0.
On court six, No. 57 ranked Tanner Smith followed with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over senior
Tom Fisher, and USC clinched the match moments later on court two. Senior
Lucas Taylor fell to No. 24 Daniel Cukierman, 6-2, 6-0.
NAU's two underclassmen in the lineup – sophomore
Chris Steele and freshman
Facundo Tumosa – did not shy from their competition. Tumosa staved off match point to No. 40 ranked Laurens Verboven as his match went unfinished, while Steele pushed Riley Smith in the closest set of the day before falling 7-5 in the first set of his match.
"This team brought us to the national stage and the experience will be invaluable to the guys returning next season," Bogusz said. "They're going to push this program even further."
The book closes on the Lumberjacks' season, but not before they collected a school record 22 victories in NAU's first-ever 20-win season. NAU increased its win total by 10 in a year's span and went unbeaten in 12 Big Sky matches, including the conference tournament.
Led by their senior class of five – Handel, Taylor, Montano, Fisher and
Justin Bac – the 'Jacks swept the Big Sky regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the national postseason for the first time in program history.
"I wish I could coach (the seniors) a little more," Bogusz said. "This is a special group of not only tennis players, but people more importantly. They'll be family forever."
Results:
Doubles:
