DAHLONEGA – The No. 14 University of North Georgia (UNG) men's tennis team opened Peach Belt Conference play with a 4-3 victory over Augusta on Wednesday afternoon at the UNG Tennis Complex at Yahoola Creek.

The Nighthawks (9-3, 1-0 PBC) secured the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. Marcos Castellanos and Franco Rebora earned a 6-2 victory at No. 3, while Juan Cruz Blanco and Ben Brandl followed with a 6-4 win at No. 1 to give North Georgia an early 1-0 lead. The No. 2 doubles match, featuring Janos Varga and Pedro Liborio, was abandoned with the duo leading 5-4.

In singles play, North Georgia picked up three key wins to seal the match. Fifth-ranked Pedro Liborio cruised to a straight-sets victory at No. 1, defeating Alexis Bailhache 6-0, 6-1. Rebora added another point with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 6.

Brandl delivered the clinching point for the Nighthawks at No. 4, rallying for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Alejandro Carbonell.

Varga dropped a three-set decision at No. 5 (6-0, 2-6, 2-6), Castellanos fell in a tight match at No. 2 after splitting the first two sets (6-2, 5-7), and Joao Luis Silva was edged in three sets at No. 3 (0-6, 6-3, 6-7).

North Georgia returns to action on March 27, heading to St. Augustine, Florida, for a PBC match against Flagler.