Men’s Tennis Completes Perfect Week with 7-0 Sweep of Montana State

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona won two of three doubles matches and swept singles play for a 7-0 shutout over Montana State on Saturday afternoon in Flagstaff. The Lumberjacks improved to 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Sky with the win while the Bobcats opened their season with the loss.

After a 6-1 upset of Sacramento State on Thursday, the Lumberjacks continued their early domination of Big Sky competition on Saturday. NAU jumped to an early lead after claiming the doubles point, with the easiest win coming from sophomores Andrew Reiff and Robin Pezzutto in an 8-4 victory at No. 3. Freshmen Hugo Ramadier and Kevin Taylor teamed for a 9-8 win at No. 2 to claim doubles and give NAU the early advantage.

The Lumberjacks would dominate singles, starting at the top with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 1 for Reiff over Montana State’s Corey Smith. Pezzutto at No. 3, junior David Flodberg at No. 5, and Taylor at No. 6 also claimed straight-set victories to clinch the match for NAU. Three-set wins for freshman Patrick Schimmelbauer at No. 2 and Ramadier at No. 4 ensured a blanking for the Lumberjacks, who have out-scored Big Sky competition 13-1 in two matches to open the season.

“This shows that we’re a force to be reckoned with,” said elated head coach Kim Bruno after the match. “These guys are just tough. Our composure for such a young team, in tie-breakers and third sets, is really impressive. There’s going to be a lot of teams surprised by us.”

The Lumberjacks will have to leave the friendly confines of Flagstaff Athletic Club for their next five matches, starting next Friday, January 29, with a match at UNLV at 2 p.m.