FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 13, 2023) - The Lumberjacks are back in action after two weekends off of competition, as the team heads to New Mexico to take on New Mexico State and Western New Mexico in a Tuesday doubleheader.
NAU will take on NMSU at 9 a.m. MST, followed by WNMU at 2 p.m. MST on Tuesday. The Jacks started the Spring schedule with two back-to-back doubleheaders in Flagstaff, moving to 3-1 on the season overall after dropping to Denver in a tight 4-3 match on Jan. 28.
To open the season, Senior Alex Groves and Purdue transfer Piotr Galus have paired up to go 4-0 in doubles play. Galus has put up a 4-0 start to singles play as well, playing primarily at the No. 2 spot. Groves follows with a 3-0 start, as the two lead the team in both singles and doubles.
The Jacks have gone 11-0 through all doubles matches, as Daniel Dillon and Facundo Tumosa have paired up for a 3-0 record behind Groves and Galus, as the team has yet to lose a doubles point.
The New Mexico State Aggies are 0-5 to start the Spring schedule, with losses coming to UC Riverside, Weber State, UNLV, Hawaii, and New Mexico. The Aggies No. 1 player, Corey Clarke is 1-3 overall in singles play this season as NMSU has gone 6-18 in singles matches as a team. Itay Feigin leads the Aggies at the No. 3 and No. 4 slots, as the sophomore is 2-2 through singles play.
The Aggies have stuck with the same doubles lineup through their first five matches, with Clarke and Roko Stipetic at the No. 1 spot going 1-4 followed by Yehor Opanasenko and Jordy Visser going 3-2 at will three wins at the No. 2, and Feigin and Luca Fe D'ostiani at the No. 3 slot going 0-3.
The Jacks and the Aggies last matched up on Feb. 25 of 2022, as NAU swept the Aggies in 7-0 fashion. Groves picked up a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win at the No. 5 spot to Visser followed by a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 victory at the No. 1 spot for Tumosa to close out the match.
Western New Mexico started its season with a 8-1 victory at Mesa Community College. The Mustangs have gone 5-1 in non-exhibition singles matches, only dropping at the No. 1 spot against the MCC Thunderbirds, while sweeping in doubles play.
The Jacks last took on the Mustangs in a double-header during opening weekend last season, earning 6-1, 7-0 victories to sweep WNMU. Buzonics had his first go at the No. 1 spot in the match, finishing out with a 6-1, 1-6, 10-7 win. Dani Torres closed out the doubleheader with a 6-7, 6-3, 12-10 victory.
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