COLUMBUS, GA. – In a clash between a pair of nationally-ranked squads, the No. 13 University of North Georgia (UNG) women's tennis team fell 5-2 to No. 14 Columbus State on Tuesday afternoon. 

The matchup served as the first official meeting between the Nighthawks (13-4, 3-2 PBC) and Columbus State (13-4, 5,0 PBC) after North Georgia defeated the Cougars in both the 2025 Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament and NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championships. On Tuesday, the Cougars found some revenge on their PBC foe. 

North Georgia had to battle from behind early after Columbus State took the doubles point. At No. 2, Emily Bush and Linn Goerdes dropped the first matchup 6-1, before the Cougars claimed the point 6-4 at No. 3 behind a hard-fought battle with Sofia Giraldo and Victoria Niox-Chateau.  

At No. 1, Olesya Stokusova and Anastasiia Opolska provided a boost for the Nighthawks in a 6-2 victory. 

The Cougars carried their momentum into singles play, securing four more wins for the team victory. Goredes was the first defeated at No. 4, 6-4, 6-3 before Giraldo's efforts came up just short 6-2, 7-6. 

Behind 3-0, the Nighthawks found some life at No. 6, as Bush grinded out a 7-5, 7-6 victory to put North Georgia on the board.  

In the top spot, Opolska, ranked No. 13 in the nation in singles, found herself in a battle with No. 17 Nikoline Gullacksen. After taking the first set 6-3, Gullacksen rallied for a 6-4 win and clinched the match in the tiebreaker. 

Stokusova earned the second singles point for the Nighthawks at No. 2 in a tightly contested matchup, winning the second set 7-6 before finishing the job 11-9 in the tiebreaker. 

Columbus State found its final singles win at No. 5, as Niox-Chateau fell in a straight set 6-2, 6-2.  

The Nighthawks will resume conference play on Friday, Apr. 17 with another road contest against Middle Georgia.