MONTEVALLO, Ala. | After dropping two of three doubles points, the University of North Georgia women’s tennis team rallied for a 5-4 Peach Belt Conference win at Montevallo on Saturday afternoon winning four of six singles matches. The victory is the Nighthawks’ sixth consecutive as they even their overall record at 8-8 and move to 3-6 in conference play.
The team of Nela Handac and Mathilde Baartvedt were the only tandem to earn a win in doubles, downing Octavia Sanders and Meagan Stevens at third doubles, 8-3.
North Georgia’s Felicia Baratta and Rita Kaldawi fought hard at the top doubles line before falling in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (5).
Needing to secure four of six singles matches to keep the team’s winning streak alive, North Georgia completed the comeback, winning all four in straight sets.
The first point came at No. 2 singles where Natalia Escobar took a point after UM’s Juanita Ossa retired during the first set.
North Georgia’s depth was the difference, as the final three points came from the bottom of the lineup. Baartvedt, Hannah Stanford and Simone Krog each registered straight set wins at fourth through six singles.
North Georgia will return to action Wednesday, April 8 with a trip to Woodstock, Ga. to take on Carson-Newman in a neutral site match at Eagle Watch. First set is set for 12:00 noon.
University of North Georgia 5, University of Montevallo 4
Singles
1. Nikola Polcerova (UM) def. Felicia Baratta (UNGW) 6-2, 6-1
2. Natalia Escobar (UNGW) def. Juanita Ossa (UM) 4-1, retired
3. Allison Howell (UM) def. Rita Kaldawi (UNGW) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
4. Mathilde Baartvedt (UNGW) def. Anais Robert (UM) 7-5, 6-3
5. Hannah Stanford (UNGW) def. Octavia Saunders (UM) 6-0, 6-2
6. Simone Krog (UNGW) def. Grace-Laura Rowe (UM) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
1. Nikola Polcerova/Anais Robert (UM) def. Felicia Baratta/Rita Kaldawi (UNGW) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Allison Howell/Grace-Laura Rowe (UM) def. Simone Krog/Natalia Escobar (UNGW) 8-4|
3. Nela Handac/Mathilde Baartvedt (UNGW) def. Octavia Saunders/Meagan Stevens (UM) 8-3