DAHLONEGA – With the latest weekly rankings from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), the University of North Georgia men's and women's tennis teams boast some of the best numbers in program history. The Nighthawks are ranked in all six possible categories (men's team, men's singles, men's doubles, women's team, women's singles, women's doubles) as both squads only have five matches remaining before postseason play.

Ranked at No. 3 nationally, the Nighthawk women's tennis program has solidified the highest ranking in program history. 

UNG had never been ranked higher than fourth in the nation before Wednesday. After getting off to a program record 15-0 start this season, the Nighthawks were ranked at No. 4 for back-to-back weeks. They followed that up with a convincing 5-2 win at No. 9 Flagler and a dominant 7-0 home win against Georgia Southwestern to earn the top-3 ranking. 

On an individual level, three different UNG players find themselves in the national rankings this week. 

Junior Angelina Linnikova sits at ninth nationally in the ITA women's singles rankings this week. It's the second highest ranking for the Irkutsk, Russia native since early March when she climbed as high as No. 7 on the list. 

Last week Linnikova took down ITA women's singles No. 2 Nadja Meier of Flagler for her first win this season over a ranked opponent, helping the Nighthawks towards a 17-0 season record. 

Seniors Viktorie Wojcikova and Johanna Lippert also headline the names in the national accolades this week for head coach Kent Norsworthy's squad. 

The doubles combination moved up to the #1 doubles spot over the weekend at Flagler and promptly took down ITA women's doubles fifth ranked pairing in a convincing 6-3 win. It's their second win this year against a ranked opponent after beating the No. 37 pairing from No. 7 West Alabama in the previous match.

With the successful weekend, a 14-2 season record and a seven-match winning streak, Wojcikova and Lippert are now the No. 31 doubles group in the nation. 

After pairing her three doubles wins with three singles wins last week including one over singles No. 40 Dana Heimen of Flagler, Wojcikova was named the PBC Women's Tennis Player of the Week for the first time in her career.

On the men's side, the Nighthawks moved up to the No. 9 spot in the latest ITA rankings, their highest mark of the season. 

Despite a loss at No. 2 Flagler in its most recent match, the ranking comes as UNG is 10-4 on the year with a pair of ranked wins over No. 11 Lander and No. 16 Auburn Montgomery. 

The Nighthawks suffered a 5-2 loss against the Saints, but senior Joaquin Benoit made a statement with wins in the #1 singles and doubles spot. 

In doubles, paired with junior teammate Robin Eldin, Benoit helped take down the doubles No. 17 pairing in a 6-3 victory. 

Then, in singles, Benoit dominated No. 11 Jacopo Denitto 6-1, 6-2 for his first ranked win of the season.

With his individual performances, Benoit was listed as the No. 43 singles player in the nation, cracking the list for the first time since Nov. 2023. He was also named as the PBC Men's Tennis Player of the Week, the fourth such honor of his career.

Benoit and Eldin are also back on the rankings as a pair this week, coming in at No. 31 in the doubles category. This week marks the first time UNG has had a doubles pairing ranked nationally since May of 2023. 

Both the men's and women's teams are currently preparing for a Friday afternoon contest against Hawaii Pacific. The Sharks are ranked No. 25 in the nation on the men's side and No. 42 on the women's side. 

Both matches tomorrow, Friday, Apr. 12 begin at 11:30 a.m. in Macon, Ga.