COLUMBUS - In a thrilling Peach Belt Conference Women's Tennis Championship match, top-seeded and fifth-ranked North Georgia narrowly defeated third-seeded and 10th-ranked Columbus State 4-3 on Sunday at the John W. Walden Tennis Center.
The championship clash was a rollercoaster from the start, with the doubles matches setting the stage.
Columbus State (15-6) struck first as
Isadora Oliveira and
Laura Pesickova dominated Emily Bush and Linn Goerdes 6-0 at No. 2 doubles. However, North Georgia (18-6) responded with Ashley Moinard and Vasilissa Kupriyanova defeating
Annie Adams and
Majra Djokic 6-3 at No. 3. The decisive point came at No. 1 doubles, where Angelina Linnikova and Carolina Reis edged
Nikoline Gullacksen and
Mariana Ramirez 7-5, giving the Nighthawks a 1-0 lead.
In singles play, North Georgia extended their advantage as Bush overwhelmed Djokic 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6. Columbus State quickly countered with Oliveira dispatching Reis 6-1, 6-3 at No. 5, and
Sofia Lauretti following with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Goerdes at No. 4, leveling the match at 2-2.?
The intensity escalated as the remaining three singles matches all stretched to three sets. Moinard regained the lead for North Georgia with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-0 victory over Ramirez at No. 2. Pesickova gave Columbus State new life at No. 3, defeating Kupriyanova 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to tie the match at 3-3.?
The championship hinged on the No. 1 singles showdown between Linnikova and Gullacksen. Gullacksen battled hard to force a third set, but it was Linnikova who prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, clinching the title for the Nighthawks.?
Next Up
- With the victory, North Georgia secures the PBC's automatic NCAA Tournament berth. Columbus State will await the announcement of an at-large bid when selections are announced on May 5.?
