COLUMBUS, Ga. – The No. 11 University of North Georgia men's tennis team had its banner 2017 season come to an end with a hard-fought 5-3 loss to No. 15 Flagler on Saturday in a NCAA Division II Southeast Regional match at the John Walden CSU Tennis Complex.
 
North Georgia ends its year with a 19-5 record, while Flagler improves to 16-7.  The Nighthawks' 19 wins is a new program record for single season victories and the NCAA appearance is UNG's fourth in the last five seasons.
 
The Nighthawks fell into an early 2-1 hole after doubles with Niklas Zielen and Hugues Renaud grabbing a quick 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles. 

UNG nearly rallied to gain the doubles advantage when Alexander Reinauer and Lukas Moritzen rallied from a 5-2 deficit to square the match at seven apiece before falling, 9-7, at No. 1 doubles. 

Reinauer would keep the momentum in his court as he evened the team score at two apiece with a quick 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles, but the Saints responded to post the next two points with victories at the bottom of the lineup (No. 5 and No. 6).

Needing to win all three remaining singles matches, the Nighthawks battled back as Renaud coasted in the third set to a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 win at No. 3. 

Flagler's Lucas Bolla clinched the match for the Saints in the fourth singles line when he held off UNG's Mark Laishley, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Zielen was leading in the third set in his top line singles match when the team score was clinched.

North Georgia and Flagler squared off three times this season with all three contests ending in 5-4 decisions and the Saints claiming the last two.
 
#15 Flagler College 5, #11 University North Georgia 3
 
Singles
1. #18 Niklas Zielen (UNGM) vs. #43 Lukas Storck (FLG) 5-7, 6-2, 2-1, unfinished
2. #24 Alexander Reinauer (UNGM) def. Willy Hasselberg (FLG) 6-3, 6-1
3. Hugues Renaud (UNGM) def. Hermann Gertmann (FLG) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
4. Luca Bolla (FLG) def. Mark Laishley (UNGM) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
5. Felipe Carvalho (FLG) def. Lukas Moritzen (UNGM) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
6. Daniel Arrien (FLG) def. Jared Bones (UNGM) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
 
Doubles
1. Lukas Storck/Felipe Carvalho (FLG) def. Alexander Reinauer/Lukas Moritzen (UNGM) 9-7
2. Willy Hasselberg/Hermann Gertmann (FLG) def. Mark Laishley/Jared Bones (UNGM) 8-3
3. Niklas Zielen/Hugues Renaud (UNGM) def. Konstantin Dustmann/Daniel Arrien (FLG) 8-3