DAHLONEGA, Ga. - The 10th-ranked and second-seeded Columbus State University women's tennis team defeated 15th-ranked and third-seeded Wingate University 4-0 in the semifinal round of the 2021 NCAA Southeast Regional Monday afternoon.

After rain forced a venue change and a delay, the Lady Cougars (15-4) went 2-0 in doubles play to help jumpstart the victory. 

The pair of Candice Paya and Amanda Citre got the afternoon started with a dominating 6-2 win at third doubles over Jessica Ruetten and Flamina Guidantoni before Valentina Abrile and Sara Ramirez Goncalves clinched the doubles point at second doubles. The Lady Cougar duo won an instant classic, taking down Elena Bompieri and Georgina Wood after an 8-6 tiebreaker gave Abrile and Ramirez Goncalves a 7-6 victory. In the unfinished match, Beatriz Lopez and Luise Sachs were down 6-5 in a tight affair against Camilla Ciaccia and Elena Gunfaus.

Columbus State played well in singles action, grabbing points at first, fourth and sixth singles. Playing in the fourth spot, Abrile was the first to finish up with an easy 6-3, 6-2 decision over Wood. In a ranked showdown at first singles, ninth-ranked Lopez defeated 49th-ranked Bompieri 6-3, 6-4 to inch the Lady Cougars closer to the regional final. The clincher came at the sixth position as Ramirez Goncalves edged Riaan Hsu 7-5, 7-6 (7-2). 

The remaining three matches were all in the third set when play was called. At second singles, 36th-ranked Paya was even in the decisive set with Ciaccia, while Citre was locked at 5-5 with Flaminia Guidantoni in the fifth spot. Sachs was a game away from a win at third singles, leading Gunfaus 6-2, 6-7, 5-2. 

Columbus State will return to the UNG Tennis Complex on Tuesday afternoon to compete for the Southeast Regional championship against eighth-ranked and top-seeded Flagler College. It will be a rematch of the PBC Tournament championship as the Saints defeated the Lady Cougars 4-3 on May 1 to win their first conference championship. The match will begin at 3 p.m.