Historic season ends in Final Four
Article By: Staff
The University of North Georgia (91ÁÔÆæ) women's tennis team kept making history until the very end of its 2024 season. Powered by a four-player senior class, determination and camaraderie, the Nighthawks reached the NCAA Division II Final Four for the first time in program history.
Third-seeded 91ÁÔÆæ recorded 4-0 victories against No. 14 seed Charleston (West Virginia) and No. 11 seed Academy of Art in the 16-team NCAA championship at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The Nighthawks' season ended with a 4-0 loss to No. 2 seed Nova Southeastern University on May 23.
"I told them after the match, it's not only about today. It's kind of the culmination of this season and what they did," head coach said. "There were so many moments this year where we had adversity and we had to win some really tough 4-3s to even get to this point."
91ÁÔÆæ finished the season with a 25-2 record, breaking the previous program record of 22 victories set by the 2019 team that reached the Elite Eight.
The Nighthawks also earned the program's first Peach Belt Conference tournament championship this season.
"The season as a whole was just something that we can never forget," Norsworthy said. "They're a very resilient group and they just continued to push forward, so I couldn't be more proud."
Before this year, 91ÁÔÆæ had just two players in program record history win 20 or more singles matches in one season. This year they had three players — junior , senior and junior — do so. Linnikova earned the highest ITA singles ranking in program history at No. 6 in the country, before tying the all-time program record with 22 singles wins on the season.
Those same three singles players recorded three of the top five singles seasons in program history. With a 21-2 record and a .913 winning percentage, Moinard and Ascarrunz are now tied for the best season winning percentage in singles play in 91ÁÔÆæ women's tennis history.
Ascarrunz and junior set a program single-season record with their 23rd doubles victory against Academy of Art. Their .884 winning percentage shattered the previous best mark in school history.
Linnikova and senior also combined to go 18-5 in doubles this year, marking the third-best doubles season in program history by winning percentage standards.
"I am extremely proud of this team and how we competed during the national tournament just like we did the entire season. We are proud to have come so close to the national title, but a little disappointed that we couldn't do it in the end," senior said. "Reflecting back, I still feel like we could have done better, but I am super proud to have possibly paved the way for future teams to believe even more in themselves and hopefully achieve this goal for the program."
Shannon lays out bold vision for 91ÁÔÆæ
91ÁÔÆæ President Michael Shannon laid out his bold vision for the university's future at 'Reveille,' launching a series of 'moonshot' goals aimed at relevance in a time of turbulence in higher education.
Athletics announces Hall of Fame class
91ÁÔÆæ has announced five 2024 inductees into the university's Athletics Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 9.
91ÁÔÆæ raises most Make-A-Wish funds in PBC
91ÁÔÆæ won the LeeAnn Noble Make-A-Wish Award for Most Funds Raised at the Peach Belt Conference annual awards dinner May 28 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Nighthawks snag national honors
91ÁÔÆæ men's golf head coach Bryson Worley was named National Coach of the Year, and four men's golf players, a women's tennis player and assistant coach, and two softball players also earned national awards this spring.