MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The No. 6 University of North Georgia (UNG) women's tennis team dominated No. 10 Auburn Montgomery (AUM) in its first ranked win of the year in Montgomery, Ala. on Friday.

The Nighthawks are now 4-0 on the season after securing their first win over a ranked opponent of the 2025 campaign. Last year, UNG won a record nine matches over ranked opponents. 

The team has six matches on the schedule this year against teams currently ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) top 25 with the chance to add a contest against two more ranked opponents at the ITA Indoor Championships next weekend.

Head coach Kent Norsworthy used the team's first ranked test of the season to tinker with some different pairings in the doubles matches on Friday.

In the #1 spot, senior Angelina Linnikova teamed up with freshman Linn Goerdes for the first time as the two rolled to a 6-3 victory.

In the #3 doubles match, senior Carolina Reis and junior Emily Bush were paired up for the first time as well. They too successfully took down their opponent 6-2 as UNG clinched the doubles point to start the day.

With a 1-0 lead, Goerdes made quick work of Ksenija Vujacic in the #4 singles contest as she collected 6-4 and 6-3 wins to earn her third singles win of the year. 

Freshman Vasilissa Kupriyanova then earned her second singles win of the season 6-1, 6-4 in the #3 match to give the Nighthawks a 3-0 lead over the Warhawks.

Just minutes later ITA women's singles No. 4 Linnikova clinched the victory for UNG with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Estefania Garcia. 

Senior Ashley Moinard added a 7-5, 6-2 victory in the #2 competition while Bush won the #6 singles match 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4) for good measure.

UNG is slated for one more match before the ITA Indoor Championships next weekend as it will head to Newberry, S.C. to take on the Wolves of Newberry on Monday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m.