DAHLONEGA, Ga. - The 10th-ranked and second-seeded Columbus State University women's tennis team captured the program's eighth straight NCAA Southeast Regional championship by upsetting eighth-ranked and top-seeded Flagler College 4-3 in the 2021 NCAA Southeast Regional Championship on Tuesday afternoon. The match was played at the UNG Tennis Complex at Yahoola Creek Park in Dahlonega.

CSU (16-4) got some revenge over the FC (16-5) after the Saints defeated the Lady Cougars 4-3 in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship on May 1. Columbus State will now head to Suprise, Ariz. and the Suprise Tennis & Racquet Complex for the NCAA Championship. The quarterfinal round will on Tuesday, May 18. The eight teams will be reseeded for the championship with the matchups being released in the upcoming days.

"I'm super proud of these young ladies," commented head coach Evan Isaacs. "I know this hasn't been an easy stretch for us, but good teams overcome adversity, and we did that this afternoon. We can't wait to continue this journey in Arizona." 

Columbus State had to rally against Flagler, falling behind 1-0 after losing the doubles point. Luisa Hrda and Amelie Vossgaetter got the best of the CSU duo of Beatriz Lopez and Luise Sachs at first doubles 6-2. FC wrapped up the first point of the afternoon as Paloma Martinez and Eden Schlagenhauf defeated Candice Paya and Amanda Citre 6-4 at the third position. Second doubles went unfinished with Alessandra Traub and Anika Nissen leading Valentina Abrile and Sara Ramirez Goncalves 5-2.

However, Columbus State turned things around in singles play to run away with the regional title.

Competing at second singles, 36th-ranked Paya dominated 23rd-ranked Schlagenhauf 6-2, 6-2 to even things for Columbus State. Shortly after Paya's victory, Abrile put the Lady Cougars on top by running away with fourth singles 6-4, 6-1 over Nissen at fourth singles. Agostina Bigott continued the momentum at fifth singles for CSU, claiming a close 7-5, 7-5 victory to bring Columbus State one win from the championship.  

Flagler made things tighter after 19th-ranked Hrda edged ninth-ranked Lopez 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 at first singles, but Yelena Labat had different plans. The freshman rallied at sixth singles after dropping the first set 6-4 to claim the clinching victory over Martinez 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at the sixth spot.

In the only unfinished match, Sachs and Traub were battling in an evenly contested three-set match.