DAHLONEGA – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association has announced the regional award winners for the 2024 NCAA Division II men's and women's tennis season. The University of North Georgia men's and women's teams each earned all-region acclaim from the ITA.

On the men's side, senior Joaquin Benoit was named the 2024 ITA Southeast Region Senior Player of the Year. Benoit had an outstanding senior campaign for the Nighthawks, going 16-2 in singles play and 13-4 in doubles. 

His 16-2 singles record marked the best singles season in program history with an .889 winning percentage. With a career 55-16 record in singles matches, Benoit stands as the second winningest men's tennis player in UNG history. His 55-16 record also holds a career .774 winning percentage, the best in program history.

Benoit ends his career with nine Peach Belt Conference postseason accolades, including a title as the 2024 PBC Co-Player of the Year. He made the PBC all-conference teams for both singles and doubles in all four years with the program.

The player of the year award from the ITA comes as Benoit's third ITA honor of his career. As a freshman in 2021, he was named the ITA Southeast Region Rookie of the Year. The following season, Benoit was honored as a 2022 ITA All-American for singles. 

For the women's team, two players and both coaches, head coach Kent Norsworthy and assistant coach Justin Miles, were honored with regional awards. 

Senior Svetlana Teterina earned the 2024 Southeast Region Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, given to the player who exhibited the most outstanding leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements. 

Teterina has been spectacular on the court this season for UNG. The senior is 15-6 in singles play with a 17-4 record in doubles. Her 2024 season now boasts a PBC All-Conference selection for doubles, a spot on the PBC Most Valuable Doubles Team and now the Arthur Ashe Award from the ITA.

Joining Teterina with regional acclaim was junior Angelina Linnikova. The junior has had one of the best individual seasons in program history and although her season is not done yet, the ITA is already looking out for Linnikova next year as she was named the 2024 Southeast Region ITA Player to Watch. 

The Player to Watch award goes to a returning player who  is expected to have an outstanding collegiate year next season and is expected to be one of the top returning regional players next year. Linnikova passes with flying colors in that regard as she currently holds a 21-3 record in singles competition and a 17-4 mark in doubles. 

With 21 singles wins, Linnikova is one victory shy of tying the all-time program record for singles wins in a season. Her .875 singles winning percentage is also the third best in program history. Last Saturday, Linnikova clinched the Nighthawks' first ever appearance in the Division II Tennis Championships with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Columbus State's Mariana Ramirez, sealing a thrilling 4-3 win to send UNG to Orlando, Fla. 

The coaching staff was also honored for the Nighthawks this season. Norsworthy was named the 2024 Southeast Region Wilson ITA Coach of the Year while Miles was honored as the ITA Assistant Coach of the Year.

Norsworthy and Miles have led UNG to the best season in program history. With 23 wins, the 2024 team is the winningest team in school history. Holding a 23-1 record, the Nighthawks have shattered the previous program winning percentage mark, boasting a .958 winning percentage this year. Currently ranked as the No. 3 team in the country by the ITA, UNG has also earned the highest ranking in program history. It's a mark the Nighthawks have maintained for four consecutive weeks in the ITA poll. 

Norsworthy and Miles look to continue re-writing history as the program is ready to embark on its first ever trip to the NCAA Division II Championships this year. In the Round of 16, the Nighthawks will face No. 33 Charleston at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla. on Monday, May 20 at 1 p.m.