NAU's Tim Handel Named #BigSkyTennis Men's Player of the Week
OGDEN, Utah (January 30, 2019) – Northern Arizona senior Tim Handel recorded an undefeated week for the Lumberjacks to collect Big Sky Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honors.
Earning the fifth Big Sky weekly accolade of his career, Handel began his senior campaign by recording two victories en route to a 4-3 season-opening win over Portland on Saturday in Las Vegas.
The nation's 25th-ranked duo of Handel and Ruben Montano clinched the doubles point for the Lumberjacks with a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles over Portland’s Eleftherios Neos and Tom Hann to put NAU ahead 1-0 in the match.
Trailing 3-2, Handel kept the Lumberjacks alive by taking down Sema Pankin 6-4, 7-6 at the top spot to even the match at 3-3 before teammate Facundo Tumosa clinched the victory on court five.
Handel was a two-time player of the week honoree in 2017 and also earned weekly accolades once during the 2016 and 2018 seasons.
Others Nominated: Adolfo Arroyo, Northern Colorado; Paul Ohde, Weber State
2019 Big Sky Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Jan. 30 – Tim Handel, Northern Arizona
Jan. 23 – Agustin Tamagnone, Southern Utah
Jan. 16 – Fynn Lohse, Idaho State