COLUMBUS, GA -- Following an epic championship match, the University of North Georgia women's tennis team claimed the 2025 Peach Belt Conference Tournament title with a 4-3 win over host Columbus State on Sunday. The Nighthawks win their second straight tournament title and receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The match was a nail-biter from the opening serve as the two teams duelled in doubles. Columbus State took the #2 doubles match as Isadora Oliveira Marcondes and Laura Pesickova defeated UNG's Emily Bush and Linn Goerdes 6-0. But UNG responded, getting the other two matches to take the doubles point. Ashley Moinard and Vasilissa Kupriyanova beat CSU's Ann Maria Adams and Majra Djokic 6-3 at third singles. UNG's Angelina Linnikova and Carolina Reis then had to battle past CSU's Nikoline Gullacksen and Mariana Ramirez 7-5 at #1 doubles.

North Georgia picked up another point to start singles as Bush defeated Djokic 6-0, 6-0 at sixth singles. CSU responded with their first point at #5 singles and Marcondes beat Reis 6-1, 6-3.

CSU tied the match at 2-2 one minute later at #4 singles and Sofia Lauretti beat Goerdes 6-3, 6-2.

Three singles matches remained, all of which went to a third set and took two or more hours to play. North Georgia went up 3-2 as Moinard fended off Mariana Ramirez 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.

CSU answered at #3 singles as Pesickova beat Kupriyanova 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and tied the match at 3-3.

The last pair on the court was at #1 singles where for two hours and 46 minutes Linnikova and Nikoline Gullacksen traded blows. In the end, Linnikova came out on top, securing the title for the Nighthawks 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

Peach Belt Women's Tennis Tournament

Most Valuable Singles Player - Angelina Linnikova, North Georgia
Most Valuable Doubles Team - Angelina Linnikova and Caroline Reis, North Georgia