ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – The No. 3 University of North Georgia women's tennis team is heading to the Final Four for the first time in program history. After a 4-0 victory over No. 28 Academy of Art, the Nighthawks are one of only four teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament. 

Beyond adding to the program-best win total with it's 25th victory this season, more history was made for UNG in the Elite Eight win over the Urban Knights. 

In doubles, senior Valentina Ascarrunz and junior Carolina Reis dominated the #3 doubles competition for a 6-1 win. The victory marked the 23rd win this season for the duo which is the new record for most doubles wins in a season in program history. 

Reis and Ascarrunz broke Kathrin Waidner's record of 22 wins which was set back in 2017. As it stands, their .884 win percentage (23-3 record) stands as the best doubles winning percentage in program history as well. 

After the win at #3, the doubles point came down to a pair of hotly contested matches at the #1 and #2 doubles spots. 

In the #2 doubles match, senior Svetlana Teterina and junior Angelina Linnikova trailed 5-4 against a tough opponent on the other side. 

On the court adjacent to them, seniors Johanna Lippert and Viktorie Wojcikova were in the midst of a comeback effort against Erica Hellbe and Amelija Supulniece, the No. 22 ranked women's doubles tandem by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). 

Lippert and Wojcikova trailed 4-3 in the late stages of their match. They struggled to score when not holding serve against Hellbe and Supulniece. 

"We were really struggling to return so it was hard, but it was good to keep holding serve and holding the score line close," said Lippert after the match. 

After winning back-to-back games to pull in front 5-4 in the match, Lippert and Wojcikova held serve in the final game. Lippert struck the ball to the back left corner with her serve before it was promptly returned by Hellbe. Lippert sent it back, this time targeting Supulniece on the right side of the court. Supulniece's return was errant as she lifted the ball into the air towards the net. Wojcikova, in perfect position, pounced on the ball, smacking it down past Supulniece to secure the match win. 

With a 1-0 lead overall, UNG felt comfortable heading into singles play. 

Lippert, perhaps riding the momentum from a clutch doubles win, dominated in the #3 singles match for a 6-1, 6-3 win to make it 2-0 Nighthawks. 

Just minutes later, Linnikova held a 5-0 lead in the second set against ITA No. 22 Supulniece. The junior had already won the first set 6-3 and needed just a few more points to secure the win. 

A long rally put Linnikova on the defensive. She lunged to her right to save the point with a forehand swing to get the ball back to Supulniece. On her next shot, Linnikova lobbed one to the far end of the court, forcing Supulniece back to the fence as she returned a lob shot of her own. The ball sailed past the baseline and Linnikova celebrated her 22nd singles win this season. 

The victory puts Linnikova atop the UNG women's tennis record book as she tied the program record for most singles wins in a season. The win also improved her record to 3-1 against nationally ranked opponents this year. More importantly, it improved the Nighthawks to 3-0 in the match. 

As Linnikova won, junior Ashley Moinard pulled in front 4-2 in the second set of the #4 singles match. After already winning the first set 6-4, Moinard needed to win just two more games to clinch the match for UNG. 

With a 5-2 lead, she saw the light at the end of the tunnel and got to there as fast as possible. She took the first three points of the game to hold a 40-0 lead. Holding serve, Moinard forced Academy of Art's Estelle Najeen into a tough rally. It was a few shots into the rally when Najeen sailed her shot past the baseline. 

Moinard let out a roar and a fist pump as she was immediately mobbed by her teammates.

"It's a very good feeling. I can't really explain it. I'm very proud of my team and myself," said Moinard after her win.

A celebration had never happened this late in the season for the Nighthawk women's tennis program. On Tuesday night, it was a beacon of everything this team has accomplished in a truly historic season. 

However, as has been the mantra for many UNG athletic teams this year, the Nighthawks are not done yet. UNG will face No. 2 Nova Southeastern in the Final Four on Thursday, May 23 at 9 a.m. from Sanlando Park once more.