PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 24, 2026) – The No. 2 Northern Arizona women's tennis team edged No. 3 Idaho State, 4-3, in the semifinals of the Big Sky Championships on Saturday afternoon at the Phoenix Tennis Center. With the win, NAU advances to the championship match for the second straight year, seeking its first tournament title since the 2022 season and sixth overall.
The close decision mirrored NAU's match with the Bengals during the regular season on Mar. 26, but the fourth point this time wasn't delivered until Leo Stoajnovic clinched the last court at the No. 5 position.
NAU went neck-and-neck with Idaho State in doubles action on courts one and three, while
Patrycja Niewiadomska and
Andrea Noguera ran away with a 6-4 win on court two.
Elen Jantacova and
Natalie Rainke battled on court one before taking a 6-4 win to secure the doubles point.
Rainke got herself back into the win column with a 7-5, 6-2 victory on court three as the Jacks took a 2-0 lead. After dropping her first set on court four, Jantacova took the second to push her match to three sets but ultimately fell as the Bengals secured their first point.
Back on court one, Niewiadomska put NAU on the verge of the clinch with a win in straight sets, including a tight 7-5 decision in the second set. The senior has won seven out of her last eight matches.
On the other side,
Mia Wolter took 6-4 win in her first set but suffered a pair of breadsticks on court six as the deficit shrank to just one point at 3-2. With two courts left to decide, Noguera battled in another three-set barnburner, but fell as the match evened at 3-3 all.
Playing in her fifth match this season to go three sets, Stojanovic rallied after dropping the first set by just a break to secure two dominant sets and take the Jacks to the finish line.
NAU plays in the championship match tomorrow morning, Saturday April 25, against No. 1 Sacramento State. First serve is set for 8 a.m. MST and can be followed on live stats.
DOUBLES RESULTS
1.
Natalie Rainke/
Elen Jantacova (NAU) def. Stefanya Shalakhova/Veronika Zarovna (ISU) 6-4
2. Patryc Niewiadomska/
Andrea Noguera (NAU) def. Millie Day/Emmy Richards (ISU) 6-3
3.
Leontina Stojanovic/
Mia Wolter (NAU) vs. Asem Shoybek/Sydney Morris (ISU) 3-4, unfinished
SINGLES RESULTS
1. Patryc Niewiadomska (NAU) def. Millie Day (ISU) 6-4, 7-5
2. Stefanya Shalakhova (ISU) def.
Andrea Noguera (NAU) 7-6, 4-6, 6-0
3.
Natalie Rainke (NAU) def. Asem Shoybek (ISU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Emmy Richards (ISU) def.
Elen Jantacova (NAU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-1
5.
Leontina Stojanovic (NAU) def. Sydney Morris (ISU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
6. Veronika Zarovna (ISU) def.
Mia Wolter (NAU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
ORDER OF FINISH:
Singles 3,4,1,6,2,5
Doubles 2,1
