FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 15, 2022) – While they have already played one conference game this season, Northern Arizona's primary stretch of Big Sky matches is set to begin this weekend in California.
Following the Lumberjacks (2-6, 0-1 Big Sky) long-awaited home debut this past weekend in Flagstaff, the trip west first includes a stop at the University of San Francisco (6-4) before heading to Sacramento State (1-11) for the first of seven consecutive conference matches. Thursday's match in San Francisco against the Dons is scheduled for 11 a.m. with Saturday's match with the Hornets is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday.
Northern Arizona will hope to build on its 6-1 victory over the New Mexico State Aggies, as the Lumberjacks won the doubles point for the second time this season and closed out five straight set victories in singles play.
SAN FRANCISCO
Set to face the Dons for just the fifth time in program history and the first time since a 4-2 victory in February 2017, the Lumberjacks will take on a program coming off a 12-7 season a year ago and a four-match win streak over the past two weeks.
Sitting at 5-0 at home this season, the Dons have beaten the San Jose State Spartans, Cal Poly Mustangs, Sacramento State and the New Mexico Lobos since March 4. Four Dons return to the lineup after earning All-West Coast Conference honors a year ago, led by Maria Martinez Vaquero's All-Conference Singles Second Team honors.
Chiho Mushika also earned singles recognition, with an honorable mention, as well as honorable mention in doubles alongside Vaquero. Arianna Capogrosso and Rita Colyer also earned honorable mention in the WCC for their play together in doubles.
Northern Arizona also beat New Mexico this season, 5-2 on Feb. 4 in Albuquerque, and fell just shy of a victory against San Jose State with a 4-3 loss in mid-February.
SACRAMENTO STATE
Voted to finish seventh in the Big Sky this season, the Hornets have struggled to a 1-11 start and enter the match on a five-match losing streak since beating the Grand Canyon Lopes 4-3 in Sacramento on Feb. 12. The Hornets fell 6-1 to San Jose State and 7-0 to San Francisco this season, and are opening their Big Sky Conference schedule with the Lumberjacks.
Northern Arizona beat Sacramento State 6-1 in Sacramento last March, the Lumberjacks fourth victory in the past five meetings with the Hornets.
After dropping the doubles point last season, Northern Arizona swept Sacramento State in singles play. Roughly half of the Hornets' lineup from last season did not return, with the Lumberjacks facing three of the team's current primary singles players a year ago.
Freshmen Maddy Ferreros and Weronika Ejsmont fill two of the Hornets' top three spots, holding 2-9 and 1-10 singles records so far this season. Tsveti Yotova, who fell to
Mimi Bland 7-5, 6-1 at No. 3 last season has spent time at all top three positions this season, holding a 2-7 record.
Megan Tagaloa, 1-11 this season, lost to
Ellie Millard 6-3, 5-7, 10-3 at No. 2 last season and has primarily played No. 4 and No. 5 this season. Transfer Alexis Johnson, 4-3 overall, and Paige Alter make up the remainder of the lineup. Alter did not play singles against Northern Arizona last season, but fell 6-3 on Court 2 in doubles to
Elinor Beazley and
Gina Dittmann.
Playing just three conference matches last season, Beazley, Bland, Dittmann, Millard and Neyestani finished with perfect 3-0 records in singles play. Following their lone conference match, a 4-3 loss at Weber State, Dittmann,
Laura Duhl and
Ava Neyestani hold 1-0 records in the Big Sky this season.
After the trip to California, Northern Arizona hosts Idaho State on March 23 and Eastern Washington on March 27 for its next set of conference matches.
The teams will face off in Pocatello, Idaho this week before heading to Arizona. The Eagles are 2-0 in the Big Sky with wins over Montana and Montana State while the Bengals defeated Portland State at home at the end of February.
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