ROME, Ga. - The No. 7 University of North Georgia (UNG) women's tennis team dropped a top 10 matchup to No. 4 West Alabama, falling after the Tigers claimed the doubles point and held on in singles play.

West Alabama took an early 1-0 lead by sweeping two of the three doubles courts. The Nighthawks' top tandem of Olesya Stokusova and Anastasiia Opolska fell 6-4 at No. 1 doubles, while Linn Goerdes and Emily Bush were also edged 6-4 at No. 2. The No. 3 pairing of Sofia Giraldo and Victoria Niox-Chateau was tied 4-4 when play concluded.

In singles, North Georgia battled back with two wins. No. 28 Stokusova earned a hard-fought victory at No. 2 singles, defeating No. 18 Alexa Milliam in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6. Goerdes added another point for the Nighthawks at No. 4 singles, grinding out a 7-6, 6-3 win.

Opolska, ranked No. 10 nationally, fell to No. 15 Shaira Rivera in straight sets at the top spot, while West Alabama picked up additional wins at No. 5 and No. 6 singles to secure the match. The decisive point came at No. 6, where Bush dropped a three-set contest after taking the opening set.

Giraldo pushed her match to three sets at No. 3 singles and was leading in the final set when play concluded.

North Georgia returns to action with a Peach Belt Conference road match at Flagler on March 27.