FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 12, 2020) – Riding a four-match winning streak, the Northern Arizona women's tennis team concludes their homestand in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex with a pair of conference matches versus Montana State and Sacramento State this weekend. The Lumberjacks will host the Bobcats on Friday and the Hornets on Sunday with both matches set to start at 2 p.m.
Both matches will follow the NAU men's tennis team's matches at 9 a.m. forming a tennis doubleheader on Friday and Sunday. After this weekend, the NAU women's tennis team will have just two home matches remaining.
The 'Jacks are 5-3 overall and coming off an impressive 4-2 victory against Pacific this past Sunday, extending their home winning streak to 10 matches dating back to last season. The Lumberjacks are now 34-2 at home, including a perfect 23-0 versus conference opponents, since the opening of the Aquatic and Tennis Complex four years ago.
NAU is 2-0 in conference play this season with victories over Portland State, 6-1, and Montana, 7-0. NAU is one of four unbeaten teams in Big Sky play and tied with Weber State at 2-0. Meanwhile, both of its opponents this weekend – Montana State and Sacramento State – are 1-0 in conference action.
This past weekend versus Pacific, NAU swept doubles for the first time in a dominant effort led by senior
Chiara Tomasetti and junior
Ellie Millard's 6-0 win at No. 1 doubles. The 'Jacks have claimed the doubles point in each of their four victories during their current win streak and in seven matches overall.
NAU is 15-9 in doubles action this spring with each of their three primary doubles teams recording at least four wins apiece. Sophomore
Adrianna Sosnowska leads NAU with a 6-2 doubles record, primarily playing with freshman
Mimi Bland and the pair combining for a 5-2 mark at No. 1.
In singles, the Lumberjacks are hot with several Lumberjacks on extended individual winning streaks.
Tomasetti defeated Pacific's Klara Kosan in her most recent match in a matchup between nationally-ranked players, which lifted her to her fourth Big Sky Women's Tennis Player of the Week award this season. Tomasetti, currently No. 45 in the country, improved to 2-0 versus nationally-ranked players this spring and 4-3 overall this season.
The Lumberjacks' No. 1 player remains undefeated at 9-0 and still has yet to drop a set in dual matches. However, Tomasetti is far from the only Lumberjack playing well in singles of late though. Both Millard and sophomore
Emilie Haakansson have won four straight matches at the No. 3 and 4 spots in the lineup.
While Millard has posted three straight-set wins in her streak, Haakansson has grinded out three victories that have gone the full three sets. Haakansson is 7-2, second-best on the team behind Tomasetti, this spring while Millard's record is an even 4-4.
NAU has won 18 of 23 completed singles matches over its last four duals versus Portland State, Montana, New Mexico and Pacific. The Lumberjacks' recent stretch has increased their team singles record 31-22, and they are 11-1 in singles versus their first two Big Sky foes.
Montana State comes to Flagstaff with a 3-10 overall record, but the Bobcats are coming off a 4-3 home victory against Big Sky rival Montana this past Sunday. The victory snapped a three-match losing streak. NAU is 27-8 all-time versus Montana State and last season's 7-0 win was the Lumberjacks' 12th straight versus the Bobcats.
The Bobcats' top two players in the lineup, Laura Mary and Linnea Fristam, are both 5-8 at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. Mary and Fristam have also posted a team-best three doubles wins at the No. 1 doubles spot.
On Sunday, NAU will look to avenge its only conference loss last season to Sacramento State. The Hornets edged the 'Jacks, 4-3, last spring to snap a three-match skid to NAU. Sacramento State, 2-9 this season and coming off a 5-2 win at Northern Colorado last Saturday, is 25-9 all-time versus NAU.
Paige Alter owns a team-best 5-4 singles record with all but one match coming at the No. 5 position in the Hornets' lineup. Alter pairs with Jayden Nielsen to form Sacramento State's top doubles teams in terms of wins at 3-2. They are 2-1 at No. 3 doubles.
Live stats for both matches will be available at this
link.
