The home of NAU men's and women's
tennis since 2006, the Flagstaff Athletic Club (FAC) provides the
premier athletic facilities in Northern Arizona. The FAC opened its
first facility on Route 66 in West Flagstaff in 1979, followed by a
second facility in East Flagstaff in 1984. That east location,
located on North Country Club drive, housed a tennis "bubble" until
2004, when it was replaced by the current tennis facility. In 2006,
Northern Arizona began playing its matches in the new tennis
center, marking the first time that NAU had a home tennis facility
and was able to host NCAA matches in Flagstaff.
Driven by the FAC's desire to bring tennis back to the Flagstaff
community and Northern Arizona's need for a suitable indoor
facility, a partnership was born that has been mutually beneficial
for both institutions. By housing Division-I tennis on its
premises, the Flagstaff Athletic Club was able to show its
commitment to tennis in Flagstaff and the community, and has since
dramatically increased its number of youth and high school tennis
players learning the game. Since the Lumberjacks have made
Flagstaff Athletic Club their home, an elevated viewing area and
pro shop have been completed to provide fans with a superb vantage
point to view all four competition courts. FAC members and tennis
enthusiasts throughout Northern Arizona are invited to attend NAU
practices and home events free of charge, bringing the tennis
community in Flagstaff and the high-quality athletes at NAU closer
than ever before.
When paired with Flagstaff's unique elevation, the Flagstaff
Athletic Club provides a home-court advantage that is unmatched in
the Big Sky Conference. The playing surface is Mondo SportFlex, a
prefabricated rubber athletic flooring. According to the Mondo
corporation, the surface is calendered and vulcanized with a
particular closed cell structure, based on special isoprenic
rubbers, mineral filters, stabilizing agents and pigmentation. It
is highly resistant to UV rays and atmospheric agents, with a
system of differential elasticity between top surface and base to
create a long lasting, easily maintained playing surface. In 2009,
both the NAU men's and women's tennis teams went undefeated
(combined 11-0) in home matches in Flagstaff Athletic Club, and
since 2007 the squads have a combined 30-10 (.750) home record.
"Flagstaff Athletic Club wanted to bring tennis back to the
community, and this partnership was a great way to show our
commitment to tennis in Flagstaff," said Flagstaff Athletic Club
Senior Sports Manager Beth Overton. "We love being the home of NAU
tennis and he hope to remain their home for years to come."
