FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 18, 2023) – Set to face the Arizona State Sun Devils for the 13th consecutive season, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks will open their spring season on Thursday in Tempe.
Originally scheduled for Monday in Tempe, Ariz. before rain in the Valley pushed the match back, Northern Arizona's season debut comes against Arizona State for the third time in the past four years while also taking on the Sun Devils in January for the sixth straight spring. Ranked No. 19 in the nation in the ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings, the Sun Devils enter Thursday with a pair of 7-0 victories already in hand. Prior to hosting the Lumberjacks at 3 p.m., the Sun Devils will also face New Mexico State at 10 a.m.
Still in search of their first victory against Arizona State, Thursday will be the 27th all-time meeting between the two programs. The Lumberjacks fell 7-0 in the past two seasons against the Sun Devils, last earning a point in 2020 with a 5-2 loss.
Four Lumberjacks remain on the roster from last season's meeting, with
Mimi Bland,
Sofia Markova,
Ava Neyestani and
Elinor Beazley playing at No. 3 to No. 6 respectively in singles play last season. Bland fell to Sedona Gallagher 7-5, 7-6 (2) at No. 3 while Markova dropped her match 7-5, 6-3 to Mari Argyrokastriti.
Arizona State returned six players from last spring's roster, with Giulia Morlet and Domenika Turkovic still atop the Sun Devils' singles lineup. Argyrokastriti opened the season playing matches at No. 3 and No. 4, with Gallagher playing both at No. 5. Patricija Spaka, who played at No. 6 last season, also remained at the same spot in Arizona State's order against Grand Canyon.
Newcomers to the Sun Devils include Chelsea Fontenel, a freshman from Switzerland, and Rachel Hanford, a transfer from Minnesota.
Morlet is 2-0 with a 7-6, 6-4 win against Grand Canyon and a 6-2, 6-2 win against UC San Diego. Turkovic also swept her season opening doubleheader with a 6-2, 6-1 victory against the Lopes and a 6-2, 6-1 win against the Tritons. The Sun Devils did not drop a set in either match to start the season, with Argyrokastriti, Fontenel and Gallagher also all 2-0 in singles.
In addition to Arizona State's No. 19 ranking as a team, Morlet opened the season at No. 46 in singles with Turkovic No. 69 and Hanford tied for No. 111. Morlet entered the week at No. 69 followed by Turkovic at No. 74, Argyrokastriti ranked No. 84 and Gallagher No. 95.
Spaka and Turkovic opened the fall at No. 22 in doubles play, moving to No. 9 in the nation in the ITA's November update.
For the Lumberjacks, freshmen
Patrycja Niewiadomska and
Daryna Shoshyna as well as transfer
Ana Karen Guadiana Campos could all make their spring season debuts for the program after competing with the team during the fall.
Thursday's match with Arizona State will be available to stream online
here with live stats
here.
For updated scores and coverage of the NAU women's tennis team during the spring season, follow the team on
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