FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 21, 2024) – Looking to extend the home win streak to four straight, the Jacks (9-5, 2-0 Big Sky) will also be seeking a second-straight win after taking down the Sacramento State Hornets on the road last week in a 4-3 finish.
NAU's last match against the Lobos in a dual match setting came in the 2022 season where New Mexico claimed a 5-2 victory in Albuquerque, marking one of just eight regular season losses for the Jacks that season.
Currently leading the team in overall singles,
Dani Torres sits with a 9-2 record while primarily playing at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Torres grabbed a ranked win last week while taking on the UC Davis Aggies, earning a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Aggie Ryan Torres who was most recently ranked No. 114 by the ITA. Torres holds the most wins for a Lumberjack in any position so far this season, with six wins coming at the No. 2 slot.
Two doubles pairings for NAU have grabbed six wins each, with
Dominik Buzonics and
Jakub Prachar leading the way with a 6-2 overall doubles record at the No. 1 position. Torres and
Maciej Ziomber follow closely with a 6-5 doubles record together, primarily playing in the No. 2. The Jacks have not dropped a match at the No. 5 slot in singles play since Jan. 27 when NAU took on No. 3 Virginia. The Jacks have also not dropped a No. 1 doubles match since Feb. 10 where NAU dropped to the Loyola Marymount Lions.
Maciej Ziomber is entering the week with his first-ever Big Sky player of the week honors added to his resume after two clinching matches on the road last week led the Jacks to victory.
Ziomber clinched both victories for the Jacks this week with singles wins against San Francisco and Sacramento State, alongside a doubles point clinch against USF. Ziomber and doubles partner Torres grabbed the close 7-5 victory over San Francisco duo Roman Lafond and Asaf Friedler to give NAU the early 1-0 lead before Ziomber went on the clinch the fourth point for the Lumberjacks at the No. 6 slot with a 7-5, 7-5 match over Lafond.
Securing NAU's second Big Sky victory this season and improving the team record to 9-5, 2-0 (Big Sky), Ziomber and Torres grabbed another No. 2 doubles win with a quick 6-0 sweep over Hayden Rand and Adam Chodur. Ziomber once again clinched the match for the Jacks with a three-set victory over Jiri Novak in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 final to give NAU the 4-3 victory over the Hornets. Ziomber now holds an overall singles record of 7-2 and a doubles record of 6-5.
Yet to play a Mountain West Conference match, the Lobos and their 9-6 record will come to Flagstaff seeking a bounce-back victory after falling to William & Mary on the road in a 4-3 finish. Prior to the road loss, the Lobos secured two road victories with a 4-0 match against Wichita State and a 4-2 win over UNC Wilmington.
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