DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The No. 13 Flagler College tennis team took down its second consecutive top-10 opponent, handing No. 5 the University of North Georgia a 4-1 loss at the UNG Tennis Complex on Friday afternoon.
The Saints, fresh off a 4-3 win against No. 1 Columbus State University, improve to 13-4 and own a 4-0 record in the Peach Belt Conference. The Nighthawks saw their 11-match win streak snapped, falling to 13-4 and suffering their PBC setback, 4-1.
The strong doubles play that has been a key to the team's success this year once again showed up, sweeping North Georgia in the opening trio of matches. After securing the doubles point against CSU,
Petr Cervinka and
Jacopo Denitto once again teamed up at third doubles and rolled to a 6-0 victory.
Nikita Tatyanin and
Jagger Ong-Patzwald recorded win No. 11 on the season to secure the opening point, posting a 6-2 victory against the No. 49 duo in Division II for their first win against a ranked foe.
At first doubles,
Oscar Del Granado and
Philipp Lemken were tested by No. 29 Joaquin Benoit and Ryan Gaskin, with the match going to a tie breaker, but the Saints' team coming out on top 7-6 (8)
In the ensuing singles competition, Cervinka finished first, cruising to a 6-3, 6-2 victory at third singles to make the score 2-0. First singles featured a clash between two ranked opponents as No. 57 Del Granado took on UNG's No. 9 Benoit and came away on top, 7-5, 6-0. The win snapped Benoit's 10-match win streak, while the 6-0 second set is the first time Benoit has been bageled this year in singles play.
UNG got on the board at fifth singles, with
Cedric Holzmann falling 5-7, 3-6. Denitto clinched the match at sixth singles, grinding out a 7-6 (4) and 6-4 win to send Flagler past North Georgia.
Flagler will play its final road match tomorrow in a 11 a.m. meeting with Young Harris College at Bob Gayle Nichols Tennis Center.
Be the first to know what's going on with the Saints -- Follow @FlaglerSports on Twitter, follow FlaglerSports on Instagram, become a fan of Flagler College Athletics on Facebook and subscribe to the Flagler College Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with Flagler Athletics.
