FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. — The University of North Georgia men's and women's tennis teams opened the season with a pair of decisive victories over Emmanuel on Saturday afternoon at the EC Tennis Courts.  Both teams eased past the host Lions by identical 9-0 scores to open the 2016-17 season.

In the men's match, North Georgia swept the three doubles matches highlighted by a 8-6 win by Niklas Zielen and Alexander Reinauer at the No. 1 doubles line.

Straight sets singles wins by Reinauer (No. 1), Hugues Renaud (No. 3) and Andre Canino (No. 5) clinched the match for the Nighthawks.

In the women's match, the Nighthawks also posted a clean sheet in the three doubles lines to take a 3-0 lead into singles play. 

Kathrin Waidner (No. 1) and Holly Bennett (No. 3) posted singles wins to push the lead to 5-0, before Lexa Loden clinched the season-opening win with a 6-1, 7-6 (6) win at fifth singles.

The victory marked head coach Kent Norsworthy's 100th career win as the leader of the women's program.

The contests were the lone event of the fall portion of the season that counts towards the team record.  The season is scheduled to resume in the spring semester.