5/14/19

WINGATE, N.C. – Behind a huge comeback at No. 1 doubles, the No. 12 University of North Georgia women’s tennis team avenged a loss to Queens from earlier in the season with a 4-2 win in the opening round of the NCAA Southeast Regional Monday afternoon.

After Lexa Loden and Adrienne Bofinger quickly earned the first doubles win at No. 3, the top two lines were in tight battles. Holly Bennett and Vaishali Jorge found themselves down, 4-1, before storming back to win the match, 7-5, and secure the doubles point.

In singles action, the Royals used a straight sets win at No. 2 singles to tie the match up, 1-1, before taking the lead with another straight set win at No. 6. Bofinger would tie the match up with a 6-3, 7-6 win at No. 1 singles, followed by a Cibeles Zuddy win at No. 4, 6-3, 6-2.

With two matches left on the court, Claudelle Labonte Frey clinched the final point after her opponent double faulted on match point for the No. 5 singles line to finish with a 6-4, 6-3 score.

The Nighthawks will now face top-seeded and No. 10 Wingate tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.