FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Idaho State men's tennis team was swept 7-0 by the league-leading Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Friday afternoon. Northern Arizona improved to 9-6 with a 5-0 record in Big Sky play while Idaho State dropped to 5-8 with a 2-2 BSC mark.
"Today, NAU proved why they are leading the league," said Head Coach
Mark Rodel. "They played very well. Our guys struggled a little with the altitude and the fast pace of the ball. However, in five of the six matches we improved and made it very competitive."
Northern Arizona began the match with the doubles point after winning matches at positions two and three. The 'Jacks kept the pressure on in singles, winning the first three contests to clinch the match.
Idaho State was able to force two three-set matches and had two additional losses that were decided with a second-set tiebreak.
At No. 3,
Fynn Lohse responded to a 6-2 loss in the first with a 3-6 win in the second set before dropping the final set.
Peter Trhac also picked himself up after a 6-1 loss to open play at No. 2. The senior battled his way to a 6-7 (3) win to force a super tiebreak in which he was narrowly defeated 10-7.
Lukas Ridemar and
Francis Filipovich were both defeated in straight sets. However, each forced a second-set tiebreak. Ridemar lost 6-2, 7-6 (5) and Filipovich was topped 6-3, 7-6 (4).
The Bengals finally return to Reed Gym next week after the difficult four-game road trip that produced a lone win. Idaho State hosts Weber State next Thursday, March 28, before closing out the month against Idaho on Sunday, March 31.
"We are now 2-2 in conference and we know what we need to do in order to complete our goals for the season," Rodel said. "We are looking forward to our next home matches against Weber [State] and Idaho."
Northern Arizona 7, Idaho State 0
Singles competition
1. Tim Handel (NAU) def. FELIX, David (ISU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Lucas Taylor (NAU) def. TRHAC, Peter (ISU) 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 1-0 (10-7)
3. Chris Steele (NAU) def. LOHSE, Fynn (ISU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
4. Facundo Tumosa (NAU) def. RIDEMAR, Lukas (ISU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Ruben Montano (NAU) def. RENDEK, Gary (ISU) 6-1, 6-0
6. Tom Fisher (NAU) def. FILIPOVICH, Francis (ISU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
Doubles competition
1. Tim Handel/Ruben Montano (NAU) vs. TRHAC, Peter/LOHSE, Fynn (ISU) 4-3, unfinished
2. Chris Steele/Tom Fisher (NAU) def. FELIX, David/RENDEK, Gary (ISU) 6-3
3. Lucas Taylor/Facundo Tumosa (NAU) def. FILIPOVICH, Francis/RIDEMAR, Lukas (ISU) 6-4
Match Notes:
Idaho State 5-8, 2-2 BSC
Northern Arizona 9-6, 5-0 BSC
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (1,5,4,6,3,2).
