Women's tennis team hosting NCAA regional
The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's tennis team has snagged the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional and will host a four-team pod May 12-13 at Clemson University. UNG, ranked fourth nationally, is looking to follow up its historic run to the national semifinals and 25-2 record in 2024 with another deep postseason march.
In the opening round, the Nighthawks (18-6) take on No. 7 seed Georgia College & State University (15-6) at 11 a.m. May 12. Opposite those opening-found foes are No. 3 seed Columbus State University (15-5), which is ninth nationally, and No. 6 seed Lees-McRae (15-3) in a 3 p.m. May 12 match.
The victor of the May 13 regional pod title match will advance to the NCAA Division II championship at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida. UNG is seeking its third overall appearance at the 16-team national championship.
"This group can do big things. We know the next steps will be very tough. We will play familiar faces in this regional, teams that we know are great competitors and well-coached," head coach Kent Norsworthy said. "We will do everything we can to be ready for the moments ahead."
The regional pod has a decidedly Peach Belt Conference (PBC) feel, with all but Lees-McRae coming from the PBC. UNG is 5-0 against the regional pod opponents this season.
UNG secured its hosting spot thanks in large part to a second consecutive PBC tournament title, which was clinched with its second win against Columbus State this season.
The Nighthawks return to the NCAA tournament for the fifth straight year and eighth season overall.
The No. 15 UNG men's tennis team (12-7) has earned the sixth seed in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.
The Nighthawks will travel to Salisbury, North Carolina, where No. 8 and second-seeded Catawba College will host three teams for one of two Southeast Regional pods set for May 9-10.
As the sixth-seeded program in the region, UNG will face No. 11 and third-seeded Wingate University (17-2) in the first round. The Nighthawks are 3-0 since 2012 against Wingate, most recently taking down the Bulldogs 4-0 in the opening round of the 2022 Southeast Regional.
The selection marks the sixth straight season and 11th overall in the last 14 years that the program has been selected for the NCAA postseason.
Should the Nighthawks take down Wingate, they will face the winner of second-seeded Catawba (20-2) and seventh-seeded Lander University (12-7). UNG took down both of those teams in the regular season, including handing Catawba one of its only two losses this season.
The Nighthawks are in search of their first appearance at the national championship site as the winner of each regional pod will advance to the play at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida, for the NCAA Division II championship.
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