TUCSON, Ariz. (February 7, 2020) – The Northern Arizona women's tennis team claimed the early lead against Arizona, but fell just shy of their first all-time win over the Wildcats on Friday in an eventual 4-3 loss. The Lumberjacks dropped their second dual match to start the spring dual season with both losses coming to Arizona State and Arizona.
"We had our chances today; we played a strong team and we came up just short," said head coach
Ewa Bogusz. "We had a very good showing in doubles. We stepped on the court and played our style and our pace and the energy was great."
NAU got the start it wanted by picking up the doubles point with wins at the top two doubles positions. Senior
Chiara Tomasetti and junior
Ellie Millard notched the first of two doubles victories at No. 2, easily defeating Kayla Wilkins and Gitte Heynemans, 6-1.
At No. 1, sophomore
Adrianna Sosnowska and freshman
Mimi Bland clinched the doubles point for the 'Jacks with a 6-3 victory over Marie Van Aelst and Kirsten Prelle before Arizona won at No. 3 doubles.
The 'Jacks took the 1-0 lead into singles play, but the Wildcats answered with wins at No. 6 and No. 2 singles to move in front, 2-1. Tomasetti responded for NAU as she recorded her third win of the spring against a Pac-12 opponent at the top spot in the lineup. Facing Talya Zandberg, Tomasetti recorded a 6-3, 6-0 victory to even the match score at 2-2.
Arizona took the lead once again with a win on court three, leaving NAU needing to win the final two matches at No. 4 and 5 to pick up its first ever win against its rival from Tucson.
On court four, sophomore
Emilie Haakansson fought back from a first set loss to prolong her match by winning the second set. However, the Wildcats clinched the match on court five with Heynemans rallying back from a first set loss herself to defeat freshman
Elinor Beazley, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.
With the match decided, Haakansson's match at No. 4 versus Wilkins went to a 10-point third set tiebreaker and for the second consecutive dual, Haakansson pulled out a three-set win, 3-6, 7-6, 1-0(7).
"It was a bit tougher start in singles," Bogusz said. "We were behind on a few courts from the beginning and against a team like this, we need a solid start. Overall I'm happy with the progress from our last dual match and that this team is driven to keep getting better."
NAU will play its first two dual matches outside the state next weekend with a pair of matches at BYU on Saturday, Feb. 15 and Utah State on Sunday, Feb. 16.
Results:
Doubles:
- Mimi Bland/Adrianna Sosnowska (NAU) def. Marie Van Aelst/Kirsten Prelle (UA), 6-3*
- Chiara Tomasetti/Ellie Millard (NAU) def. Kayla Wilkins/Gitte Heynemans (UA), 6-1
- Talya Zandberg/Abby Amos (UA) def. Emile Haakansson/Elinor Beazley (NAU), 6-2
*Clinched Doubles Point | Order of Finish: (2, 1, 3)
Singles:
- No. 47 Chiara Tomasetti (NAU) def. Talya Zandberg (UA), 6-3, 6-0
- Kirsten Prelle (UA) def. Adrianna Sosnowska (NAU), 6-1, 6-2
- Abby Amos (UA) def. Ellie Millard (NAU), 7-5, 6-2
- Emilie Haakansson (NAU) def. Kayla Wilkins (UA), 3-6, 7-6, 1-0(7)
- Gitte Heynemans (UA) def. Elinor Beazley (NAU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-0**
- Csenge Furak (UA) def. Madi Moore (NAU), 6-0, 6-1
**Clinched Match | Order of Finish: (6, 2, 1, 3, 5, 4)
