FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 1, 2023) – Scheduled for three matches in Tucson this weekend, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks will face a trio of teams that finished the 2022 season ranked among the ITA Collegiate Tennis Top 75.
Taking on the Florida Atlantic Owls (2-3), Fresno State Bulldogs (1-2) and the Arizona Wildcats (3-1) on Friday and Saturday, the Lumberjacks (1-1) will look for their first road victory this year after opening their home schedule with a 4-3 win against the Grand Canyon Lopes. Last spring, the Wildcats finished the season 16-11 overall and ranked No. 47 in the nation followed by the No. 65 Bulldogs (20-4) and the No. 66 Owls (13-11).
Northern Arizona's
Sofia Markova,
Ava Neyestani and
Patrycja Niewiadomska all won in straight sets last Friday against the Grand Canyon Lopes as the Lumberjacks extended their home winning streak to 24 matches. Before singles play was split 3-3, Markova and freshman
Daryna Shoshyna cruised to a 6-2 win at No. 3 in doubles with Neyestani and
Ana Karen Guadiana Campos clinching the points with a 6-4 victory at No. 2.
FAU
The weekend begins with FAU, the first ever meeting between the schools. The Owls finished No. 9 in the Southeast Region in 2022 and No. 20 in the Mid-Major rankings, reaching the second round of the Conference USA Tournament.
Holding wins against Miami (OH) and North Florida this season, FAU's Martina Kudelova was named All-CUSA First Team in singles and Second Team in doubles last year. Kudelova's doubles partner Katerina Filip, also an All-CUSA Second Team selection in doubles, returned for the 2023 season as well.
FRESNO STATE
Fresno State also returned its top player from the 2022 season, with Mountain West Player of the Year Pang Jittakoat atop the order this spring. An All-Mountain West honoree in singles and in doubles, Jittakoat ranked No. 18 in the Northwest Region last season.
The Bulldogs finished last spring undefeated in Mountain West play at 10-0, but fell in the first round of the conference tournament to No. 8-seed Nevada. Ranked No. 6 in the Northwest Region and No. 19 in the Mid-Major rankings, Fresno State also had Matilde Magrini earn All-Mountain West Doubles honors in her freshman season. Jittakoat and Magrini finished the 2022 season ranked No. 9 in the Northwest Region doubles rankings.
Holding a 4-3 victory against Sacramento State this season, Fresno State's losses have come to No. 1 Texas and Loyola Marymount and will face Northern Arizona for the first time since 2019.
ARIZONA
Arizona enters the weekend 3-1 this season, beating UTEP, UC San Diego and Grand Canyon with a 4-0 loss to No. 20 Florida. Returning six players from last season's team that finished 16-11 overall and ranked No. 8 in the Southwest Region, the Wildcats hold a 39-0 all-time record against Northern Arizona following last season's 6-1 victory.
Mimi Bland defeated Kayla Wilkins 4-6, 6-0, 10-6 last February, with Northern Arizona taking at least one point from the Pac-12 program in each of the past five meetings. Wilkins and Salma Ziouti earned Pac-12 Honorable Mention last season after playing atop the Wildcats' lineup last season.
Saturday's match against Arizona will be available to stream
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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