COLUMBUS, Ga. – The No. 18 University of North Georgia men's tennis team's upset bid at sixth-ranked Columbus State fell just short as the Nighthawks dropped a hard-fought 5-4 Peach Belt Conference decision to the Cougars at the Cooper Creek Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.

The loss is the first of the season for the Nighthawks as they fall to 9-1 overall and 4-1 in PBC play.  Columbus State improves to the same season mark.
 
Columbus State won two of three doubles matches including a pivotal 9-8 (6) win at in the third line over Hugues Renaud and Jared Bones.

North Georgia's lone doubles point came courtesy of an 8-2 win by seventh-ranked Alexander Reinauer and Niklas Zielen at No. 1 doubles.  

In singles, the Nighthawks rallied as Reinauer (No. 2) and Lukas Moritzen (No. 5) posted straight set victories for UNG with both wins coming over nationally-ranked players. 

After the Cougars secured their fourth point with a win at fourth singles, Zielen evened the match with a 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1 win in the top singles line.

The decisive match was at third singles where CSU rallied from a set down to hold off the Nighthawks' charge.

North Georgia opens its annual Spring Break trip by facing Auburn Montgomery on Tuesday, Mar. 14 at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona just outside Orlando. 

#6 Columbus State 5, #18 North Georgia 4

Singles
 
1. #7 Niklas Zielen (UNG) def. #17 KP Pannu (CSU) 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-1
2. #16 Alexander Reinauer (UNG) def. #47 Zach Whaanga (CSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Paul Sprengelmeijer (CSU) def. Hugues Renaud (UNG) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Matei Avram (CSU) def. Andre Canino (UNG) 7-6, 6-4
5. Lukas Moritzen (UNG) def. Shao Yu-Yu (CSU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
6. #39 Jorge Vargas (CSU) def. Mark Laishley (UNG) 6-1, 6-1
 
Doubles
 
1. #18 Alexander Reinauer / Niklas Zielen (UNG) def. Maciej Kierkus / Matei Avram (CSU) 8-2
2. Zach Whaanga / Shao-Yu Yu (CSU) def. Lukas Moritzen / Andre Canino (UNG) 8-4
3. Jorge Vargas / KP Pannu (CSU) def Hugues Renaud / Jared Bones (UNG) 9-8 (9-7)