PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 29, 2022) - The Northern Arizona Men's tennis team fell in the semifinal round of the Big Sky Championships, losing the 4-3 matchup to the Montana State Bobcats.
The Lumberjacks dropped a heartbreaker Friday morning, suffering losses in the doubles point, at the No. 4, No. 2, and No. 5 positions.
"I'm super proud, they left it all on the court," Head Coach Maciej Bogusz said. "We had chances in doubles, we had chances in singles, it was just two good teams going at each other, both teams were nationally ranked this season and it just speaks how good the conference has gotten."
Earning the victory on court three, NAU's doubles pairing Maciej Ziomber and Daniel Dillon brought in a 6-4 win to MSU's Marcos Zelver and Brad Buckland, marking the 'Jacks sole doubles win.
Junior Alex Groves and Sophomore Dominik Buzonics dropped their match to the Bobcats' Daan Van Dijk and Nejc Sitar, 4-6. In the closest doubles matchup at the No. 1 position, Eban Straker-Meads and Facundo Tumosa fell 5-7 to Matej Panik and Jamieson Nathan.
Down by one, the 'Jacks headed into singles play with a solid start on every court.
Freshman Dani Torres cleared his court quickly, as he earned a few breaks throughout the match and pulled out the 6-1, 6-3 victory to MSU's Joaquin Espinoza, tying the match up 1-1.
Ziomber fell in two sets to Montana State's Brad Buckland after a tough 1-6 first set, followed by a hard-fought 5-7 second set, putting the Bobcats back up in the lead by one point.
Dominik Buzonics and Bobcat Jamieson Nathan were battling back and forth at the No. 3 position, where Buzonics turned up the heat and came out with a 6-3, 6-4 match victory, tying the match back up at 2 a piece.
Courts 1, 2, and 5 were all going back and forth with breaks, every player trying to pull out wins for their team's to clinch the match. The 'Jacks took a short 3-2 lead as Eban Straker-Meads clinched his match at the No. 1 position to MSU's Van Dijk, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
Tumosa earned a 7-5 first set victory, before falling 3-6, 4-6 in the second and third sets to Bobcat's Panik at the No. 2 position, leaving the match tied at three's, with every coming down to the No. 5 positions.
After a 6-2 first set for Groves, Montana State's Sitar was able to bounce back for a 3-6, 3-6 second and third set, punching MSU's ticket to the championship.
The Lumberjacks close out their Spring 2022 season with an overall record of 19-9.
To stay up to date with the Lumberjacks this offseason, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
