CHENEY, Wash.—Idaho men's tennis improved to 2-1 in the Big Sky with its 4-3 win over Northern Arizona on Saturday. The Vandals went back and forth with the Lumberjacks on the neutral court, going all the way down to the wire.

“Today was a roller coaster,” head coach Abid Akbar noted. “It was as close as they get. It is nice to start our conference stretch with the 'W.' We have three consecutive Big Sky matches to follow. Three more 'W's' to get.”

Northern Arizona picked up the day's first point by claiming two out of the three doubles matches. Idaho scored the win in No. 3 play to begin the day. Mark Kovacs and Lucas Coutinho picked up the 6-2 decision. NAU came back and won the next two courts to gain the 1-0 lead.

Senior Odon Barta earned Idaho's first point in singles. He made quick work of NAU's Tim Handel in No. 1 play, 6-0, 6-4. The Lumberjacks struck back with a win on the No. 3 court. Jackson Varney pulled Idaho back to even with his 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Ruben Montano in No. 4 play.

Felipe Fonseca put Idaho ahead, 3-2, with his win in the No. 2 position. Northern Arizona's Thomas Fisher tied the match at three with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Coutinho. The clincher came down to a three-set triumph from Kovacs on the No. 5 court, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.

The Vandals will continue Big Sky action from Lewiston on Thursday, March 10, taking on Southern Utah. Montana State and Montana close out the current conference stretch.