Softball, women's tennis teams host regionals
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia (UNG) softball and women's tennis teams will host NCAA Division II regional play this week. Additionally, the UNG men's tennis team will start the NCAA postseason on the road.
In softball, the Nighthawks (47-10) are the No. 2 seed in the Southeast Regional and will welcome No. 3 seed Francis Marion (45-11), No. 6 seed Columbus State (35-22) and No. 7 seed Flagler (34-22) to Dahlonega for one of two four-team pods set for May 9-11. Tickets are $10 per day on the UNG Athletics website.
"We are very excited to have an opportunity to be one of two programs in the NCAA Southeast Region to be selected as a host site. This team has worked extremely hard over the past nine months and during the course of the spring 2024 season to earn 47 wins and an opportunity to play another weekend at 'The Hill,'" softball head coach Mike Davenport said. "This team has already accomplished so much this season and is led by one of the most successful senior classes in program history, who will continue to play for another day together on the field."
Further north, No. 1 seed Wingate will host No. 4 seed Lenoir-Rhyne, No. 5 seed Lander and No. 8 seed Anderson in in Wingate, North Carolina. The victors from the two pods will face off in the Southeast Super Regional May 14-15.
UNG begins Southeast Regional play at 5 p.m. May 9 against Flagler, a Peach Belt Conference (PBC) rival, followed by a matchup between Francis Marion and PBC tournament champion Columbus State at 7:30 p.m. The double-elimination event continues May 10 with the championship of this pod determined May 11.
NCAA Division II softball Southeast Regional pod
May 9
Game 1: No. 2 UNG vs. No. 7 Flagler, 5 p.m.
Game 2: No. 3 Francis Marion vs. No. 6 Columbus State, 7:30 p.m.
May 10
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, noon
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
May 11
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, noon
Game 7 (if necessary): Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 2:30 p.m.
In women's tennis, UNG will welcome two other teams May 10-11 to the UNG Tennis Complex at Yahoola Creek for one of two Southeast Regional Tournament pods. Ranked third nationally, the PBC tournament champion Nighthawks carry a 22-1 record into the NCAA tournament. After a first-round bye, the top-seeded Nighthawks will face the winner from the first-round match between No. 4 seed Columbus State (14-7) and No. 5 seed Erskine (18-3) in an 11 a.m. May 11 matchup.
The winner of UNG's NCAA tournament opener advances to the 16-team NCAA championship at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida, set for May 20-24.
"We are thrilled to host such a competitive regional this weekend. The ladies are extremely excited," women's and men's tennis head coach Kent Norsworthy said. "We know how tough this weekend will be, but they will be prepared for the challenge."
The UNG men's tennis team earned the No. 3 seed in the Southeast Regional and will play in a four-team pod in Auburn, Alabama, from May 13-14. Ranked 10th nationally, the Nighthawks (13-7) take on No. 6 seed Augusta (10-7) at 1 p.m. May 13. The winner of that match will face No. 2 seed Columbus State (12-7) or No. 7 seed Belmont Abbey (25-18) in a May 14 Southeast Regional matchup.
The victor from UNG's men's tennis four-team regional tournament advances to the NCAA championship in the same location as the women, an event set for May 21-25.
NCAA Division II women's tennis Southeast Regional pod
May 10
No. 4 Columbus State vs. No. 5 Erskine, 1 p.m.
May 11
No. 1 UNG vs. Columbus State-Erskine winner, 11 a.m.
NCAA Division II men's tennis Southeast Regional pod
May 13
Match 1: No. 2 Columbus State vs. No. 7 Belmont Abbey, 10 a.m.
Match 2: No. 3 UNG vs. No. 6 Augusta, 1 p.m.
May 14
Match 3: Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner, time TBA
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