PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 25, 2026) – The No. 2 Northern Arizona women's tennis team rallied in singles but fell to No. 1 Sacramento State 4-1 in the Big Sky Championship match on Saturday afternoon at the Phoenix Tennis Center.
NAU closes its season 8-8 overall, and 6-2 in conference play.
The Hornets grabbed the 1-0 lead following doubles with wins on courts three and two. NAU continued to battle in singles, as Sacramento State made it 2-0 with another win on court six. In first sets, courts one through five all came down to the wire, with no one winning by more than a break.
After falling just 7-5 in her first set,
Leontina Stojanovic couldn't keep pace and fell 6-1 in her second set as Sacramento State put itself on the verge of the clinch.
Natalie Rainke then got the Jacks' first point with a 6-4, 6-1 win on court three, her second victory in as many days.
The Lumberjacks did not go away quietly, as
Patrycja Niewiadomska,
Andrea Noguera, and
Elen Jantacova all pushed their matches to three sets to try and climb back. All three hung in the third set, but the Hornets ultimately closed the door with a win on court one.
DOUBLES COMPETITION
1
Natalie Rainke and
Elen Jantacova (NAU) vs. Irene Riva and Palina Saulevich (SAC) 5-5 (match was unfinished)
2 Lou Baudouin and Emilija Pranyte (SAC) def.
Patrycja Niewiadomska and
Andrea Noguera (NAU) 6-3
3 Catherine Walker and Camila Maldonado Gutierrez (SAC) def.
Leontina Stojanovic and
Mia Wolter (NAU) 6-0
SINGLES COMPETITION
1 Catherine Walker (SAC) def.
Patrycja Niewiadomska (NAU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
2 Lou Baudouin (SAC) vs.
Andrea Noguera (NAU) 7-5, 4-6, 5-2 (match was unfinished)
3
Natalie Rainke (NAU) def. Irene Riva (SAC) 6-4, 6-1
4 Camila Maldonado Gutierrez (SAC) vs.
Elen Jantacova (NAU) 5-7, 5-4, 1-3 (match was unfinished)
5 Emilija Pranyte (SAC) def.
Leontina Stojanovic (NAU) 7-5, 6-1
6 Palina Saulevich (ISU) def.
Mia Wolter (NAU) 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish
Singles 6,5,3,1 Doubles 3,2
