NAU Drops 4-3 Nail Biter to Sacramento State - Northern Arizona University Athletics

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Northern Arizona men's tennis team started off its final roadtrip of the season with a matchup against Sacramento State. Looking to snap a two-match losing streak, the Lumberjacks were able to come away with the doubles point but it wasn't enough as the Hornets defeated the Lumberjacks 4-3 to fall 7-11 this season and 4-3 in the Big Sky.

With a few lineup shakeups in doubles play, the Lumberjacks were able to come away with the doubles point pulling out victories on courts two and three. The new tandem of Felix Schumann and Kester Black took the court together facing Christopher Clayton and Kasparas Zemaitelis. The freshman and senior got NAU its first win of the day with a 6-3 victory on court three. The new duo from Israel in Adi Zilberstein and Eden Peleg came away with a 6-3 win on court two to clinch the point for NAU.

NAU needed three wins in singles to come away with the win but Sacramento State was able to squeak out four wins with victories on courts two, three, five and six. The two wins in singles for NAU came from Jordan Gobatie on court one and Black on court four. Gobatie defeated Roy Brandys 7-6, 6-1 for NAU's first win in singles and in the final match of the day Black defeated Marek Marksoo 6-2, 6-4.

NAU will conclude its roadtrip with a matchup against No. 71 in the nation UC Davis on Sunday, April 5.

Results

Doubles

1. Jordan Gobatie/Alexandre Locci (NAU) vs. Tom Miller/Roy Brandys (SAC) 5-4 unfinished
2. Eden Peleg/Adi Zilberstein (NAU) def. Sean Kolar/Joaquin Marquez (SAC) 6-3
3. Felix Schumann/Kester Black (NAU) def. Christopher Clayton/Kasparas Zemaitelis (SAC) 6-3

Order of Finish: 3, 2

Singles

1. Jordan Gobatie (NAU) def. Roy Brandys (SAC) 7-5, 6-1
2. Kasparas Zemaitelis (SAC) def. Eden Peleg (NAU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Niranjan Ram (SAC) def. Alexandre Locci (NAU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Kester Black (NAU) def. Marek Marksoo (SAC) 6-2, 6-7 (3), 4-0 retired
5. Tom Miller (SAC) def. Felix Schumann (NAU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Joaquin Marquez (SAC) def. Adi Zilberstein (NAU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Order of Finish: 2, 5, 1, 3, 6, 4