No. 10 Nighthawks Take Down Augusta 4-0 To Open 2024 Southeast Regionals
AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 10 University of North Georgia men's tennis team advanced to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament Monday afternoon after a 4-0 win over sixth-seeded Augusta in the opening round.
The Nighthawks quickly won the doubles point after wins in the #1 and #2 spots.
Senior Joaquin Benoit and junior Robin Eldin motored to a 6-1 in the #1 contest while senior Giulio Sassi and freshman Marcos Castellanos cruised to a 6-2 win in the #2 competition to clinch the point.
Sassi continued his quality play in singles with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Herick Isago in the #2 doubles match.
Eldin needed a tiebreaker in the first set of his match in the #3 singles spot, but ultimately emerged victorious by a 7-6 (6-2 tiebreaker), 6-4 margin.
Benoit then clinched the match with a comeback win in #1 singles. He dropped the first set to Augusta's Enzo Garutti 2-6. The 2024 PBC Co-Player of the Year then locked in for the next two sets with 6-0 and 6-3 wins, sealing the match.
With the win, UNG moves on to the final in the Southeast Region #2 Tournament, taking on second-seeded host and Intercollegiate Tennis Association No. 6 Columbus State. The Cougars also rolled to an easy win in their first match, downing seventh-seeded Belmont Abbey 5-0.
The Nighthawks will get a chance to exact revenge from a pair of losses in the regular season to CSU. Both on the road, UNG dropped a 5-2 match to the Cougars in mid April before falling again 4-1 in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals. The winner advances to the 2024 NCAA Division II Spring Sports Festival May 21-25 in Orlando, Florida.
The Nighthawks are winless in 28 tries historically against CSU. They'll take their shot at win number one tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14 at 1 p.m. at Auburn's Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, Ala.
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