The University of North Georgia women’s tennis team captured the 2025 Peach Belt Conference Tournament title on Sunday with a thrilling 4-3 victory over host Columbus State. With the win, the Nighthawks secured their second straight tournament championship and earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The match was intense from the first serve. Columbus State struck first in doubles play, as Isadora Oliveira Marcondes and Laura Pesickova defeated UNG’s Emily Bush and Linn Goerdes 6-0 at #2 doubles. However, North Georgia responded strongly. Ashley Moinard and Vasilissa Kupriyanova won 6-3 at #3 doubles over Ann Maria Adams and Majra Djokic. Then, UNG’s top pair, Angelina Linnikova and Carolina Reis, battled to a hard-fought 7-5 victory over Nikoline Gullacksen and Mariana Ramirez at #1 doubles, giving the Nighthawks the doubles point.
In singles, North Georgia built on their lead. Emily Bush dominated at #6 singles, beating Djokic 6-0, 6-0 to put UNG up 2-0. Columbus State fought back, as Marcondes defeated Reis 6-1, 6-3 at #5 singles. Moments later, CSU tied the match 2-2 when Sofia Lauretti beat Goerdes 6-3, 6-2 at #4 singles.
The championship came down to the final three singles matches, all of which went to a deciding third set and lasted over two hours. Moinard put UNG ahead 3-2 after a hard-earned 6-4, 1-6, 6-0 win over Ramirez. Columbus State quickly responded again, with Pesickova topping Kupriyanova 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 at #3 singles to even the score at 3-3.
Everything came down to the final court at #1 singles. For two hours and 46 minutes, Linnikova and Gullacksen battled fiercely. In the end, Linnikova sealed the championship for North Georgia with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory.
Following the match, North Georgia’s Angelina Linnikova was named the Tournament’s Most Valuable Singles Player. She and partner Carolina Reis were also honored as the Most Valuable Doubles Team.
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