COLUMBUS, Ga. - No.4 (ITA Division II Top 50) Flagler College upset No. 3 Columbus State University, 4-1 in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional finale to advance to the NCAA DII National Tournament's Round of 16 this afternoon at the John W. Walden Tennis Center.
Making the trip four of the past five years, Flagler will compete for the national championship for the first time since 2024. Elevating to a 20-4 record, the Saints will be one of 16 teams to compete at the Surprise (Ariz.) Tennis & Racquet Complex beginning Wednesday (May 20).
Flagler won on courts one and three to secure the doubles win. In their first match as a duo,
Aniss Rafiq and
Oliver Hradilek swept Daniel Hammond and Benedek Szombathelyi, 6-0. Rafiq has won five of his last six double matches while Hradilek won his first since his last match on April 24 against Georgia College & State University.
Starting off singles was No. 14 Borlee to go undefeated on the day. A dominant 6-0 first set, followed by a 6-3 set secured the second point over Yike Liu. No. 35 Rafiq's match saw an upset against No. 34 Hugo Didier. The sophomore defeated Didier 6-4 and 6-2. Rallying to send the Saints over the Cougars was Hradilek. After going down 6-0 to Samer Al Tori, Hradliek took the next two sets 6-2 to gain the win.
