FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 22, 2024) – The NAU men's tennis team competed in the ITA Regional Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lumberjacks that traveled to the tournament were freshman
Kai Mills, freshman
Jakub Volesky, sophomore
Semen Agynskyy, sophomore
Jakub Prachar, junior
Takumi Katsuda and senior
Dani Torres.
In doubles play, no pair of Lumberjacks won a match, with the pair of Volesky and Katsuda being the closest, losing to a pair from the University of Utah in a tiebreaker, 8-7(6).
The Lumberjacks found more success on the singles side. Torres made it the furthest of the NAU players in the main draw, going all the way to the quarterfinals. While on his way to the quarters, he took down the No. 2 seed from BYU, senior Wally Thayne, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Agynskyy was the second Lumberjack in the main draw. He started the first round with a strong putting up a bagel over Idaho sophomore Yu-Shun Lai, 6-2, 6-0. However, the Ukrainian's time in the tournament was short-lived after a loss to the No. 5 seed, Utah junior Berk Bugarikj. Agynskyy battled in the second set but lost in a tiebreaker, 6-2, 7-6(2).
The other four Lumberjacks were in the qualifying draw. Katsuda came away with one win in the draw, beating BYU junior Alex Edmonston, by the score of 6-4, 6-4. The next match for Katsuda he lost to No. 12 seed, Denver senior Rikuto Yamaguchi, 6-3, 6-4.
Prachar was able to get a first-round bye in the qualifying draw by being the No. 3 seed. In the second round, Prachar was upset by Utah State senior David Martirosian, 7-6(3), 6-4.
Mills went 1-1 getting his win in the consolation bracket or the qualifying draw. Mills' win came against Utah sophomore Nicolas Calixto in a third set tiebreaker, winning by the scoreline, 6-2, 4-6, 10-4.
Volesky went 0-1 with a loss to BYU sophomore Otto Schreiner, 6-2, 6-3.
The Lumberjacks will now head to Phoenix for the GCU Hidden Duels hosted by Grand Canyon University. To stay up to date with NAU Tennis, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
