DAHLONEGA, GA. – The No. 23 Queens University of Charlotte women's tennis team earned a 5-2 upset of No. 10 University of North Georgia in a southeast region showdown on Sunday at the UNG Tennis Complex at Yahoola Creek.
 
"The girls gave everything today, I'm so proud of them," said Head Tennis Coach Billy Boykin. "They fought through momentum swings and nerves in a hostile environment to beat a really tough team. They worked hard for everything. We played with great intensity from start to finish."
 
Queens was able to go ahead early in the match, winning of two of three doubles matches beginning with a 6-4 win in the top position from the 8^th-ranked duo of Sasha Davidzenka and Yana Fleyer. The No. 3 tandem of Hannah Lehfeldt and Viktorija Veselinova secured a 7-6 win to give the Royals a 1-0 match lead.
 
North Georgia, which advanced to the Sweet 16 of last year's NCAA Tournament, evened the match score with a win to open singles play before Davidzenka pulled off an upset of the No. 2 singles play in the country, winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to put Queens back in front.
 
"Sasha led the way for us today," Boykin continued. "She followed up an outstanding doubles performance by knocking off the 2^nd-ranked singles player in the nation. She is a toal team player and puts the work in every day. I am so happy for her."
 
Veselinova was a 6-4, 6-4 winner at No. 4 as freshman Caity Klaassen sealed the match decision for Queens with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 win at No. 5. Lehfeldt finished off the match with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 win at No. 6.
 
The Royals return to South Atlantic Conference play on Wednesday, March 27 when the team hosts No. 45 Tusculum University at 1 p.m. from the Howard Levine Tennis Center.
 
 
#23 Queens University of Charlotte 5, #10 University of North Georgia 2
 
Singles competition
1. Adrienne Bofinger (UNGW) def. Yana Fleyer (QUEENSW) 6-4, 6-3
2. Sasha Davidzenka (QUEENSW) def. #2 Vaishali Jorge (UNGW) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
3. Holly Bennett (UNGW) def. Isabel Fornies (QUEENSW) 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Viktorija Veselinova (QUEENSW) def. Cibeles Zuddy (UNGW) 6-4, 6-4
5. Caity Klaassen (QUEENSW) def. Claudelle Labonte (UNGW) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
6. Hannah Lehfeldt (QUEENSW) def. Rafaella Villanueva (UNGW) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. #8 Yana Fleyer/Sasha Davidzenka (QUEENSW) def. Holly Bennett/Vaishali Jorge (UNGW) 6-4
2. Emma Etelalahti/Adrienne Bofinger (UNGW) def. Isabel Fornies/Caity Klaassen (QUEENSW) 7-6 (7-2)
3. Viktorija Veselinova/Hannah Lehfeldt (QUEENSW) def. Cibeles Zuddy/Lexa Loden (UNGW) 7-6 (7-4)
 
Match Notes:
Queens University of Charlotte 9-2; National ranking #23; Regional ranking #6
University of North Georgia 11-2; National ranking #10; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,4,3,5,6)