FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 8, 2021) – Monday's Northern Arizona men's tennis home opener came down to the two center courts, but the Lumberjacks ultimately fell just shy of victory with Utah State stealing a 4-3 decision in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex.
The loss snapped NAU's 32-match home winning streak dating back to March 1, 2016 when the Lumberjacks fell to Loyola Marymount, 5-2. NAU dropped to 0-4 this spring, while Utah State improved to 6-3.
"We had three matches go to a third set and it was a great college match against a very good Mountain West team," said head coach
Maciej Bogusz. "But in order to do well in conference this year, we have to be able to win those matches. When things get tough, we have to get tougher."
Moments after junior
Facundo Tumosa evened the match at 3-3 with a three-set victory at No. 2 singles, Utah State's Sergiu Bucur clinched the victory for the visitors at No. 1. Bucur defeated senior
Eban Straker-Meads on the top court, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to complete Utah State's comeback from down 2-0 in the match.
Playing in its first match since a doubleheader versus No. 21 Arizona on Feb. 19, NAU showed no rust early, snagging the advantage with the doubles point for the first time this spring.
Senior
Chris Steele and freshman
Dominik Buzonics struck first with a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles, and the Lumberjacks clinched the doubles point on No. 1 courtesy of Tumosa and sophomore
Alex Groves' 6-3 victory.
"The energy was great and we played good doubles," Bogusz said. "The guys played aggressive and they brought to the other team. I'm happy with the way we came out after having a few weeks off since our last match."
Junior
Marcus Sulen was inserted into the NAU singles lineup for the first time this season, and he immediately made an impact on court six. The Louisville transfer made quick work of Arvid Hjalte, 6-3, 6-1, to give the Lumberjacks a 2-0 lead.
Utah State answered with straight-set victories at No. 3 and 5 to tie the match, leaving it up to courts one, two and four.
At No. 4 singles, Groves responded to a first set loss to Roko Savin by winning the second set. However, Groves' momentum was halted as Savin secured a third consecutive victory for the Aggies with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 win, which put Utah State on the brink of the win.
Groves' match at No. 4 was one of three singles matches that went the distance on Monday with the Aggies claiming two of them. The Lumberjacks' second singles win of the day came via Tumosa, who battled Felipe Acosta for a tough three-set win at No. 2.
Tumosa, who had played the first three matches of the season at the top spot of the lineup, gutted out a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 victory, which tied the match at 3-3 and left it up to Straker-Meads and Bucur on the first court.
Straker-Meads took the early lead with a set one win only for Bucur to knot it up in the second set. With the team score on the line, it was Bucur who would eventually emerge victorious, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
NAU will make the short trip down to Tempe, Ariz. for a Thursday afternoon neutral court matchup with VCU at 3 p.m. before a two-match road trip to California next week, which will include the team's Big Sky opener at Sacramento State on March 18.
Following the road trip, the Lumberjacks will play three straight at home to close out the month of March.
Results:
Doubles:
