After getting bounced in the PBC Semifinals in three of the last four seasons, UNG’s (12-6) 4-3 win over the Cougars (11-10) advances it to the tournament finals for the first time in program history.
The Nighthawks came back in miraculous fashion Saturday to complete their first win over CSU in program history.
UNG fell behind early in Saturday’s match as victories in the #1 and #2 doubles matches gave the Cougars an early 1-0 lead overall.
Singles play was an all-out war between the two teams as five of the six matches went to three sets.
The Nighthawks got on the board and tied the match at 1-1 thanks to a comeback win in #5 singles from freshman Juan Cruz Blanco.
Cruz Blanco failed to win a single game in the first set against Elias Peter as he lost 0-6. The rookie rebounded with 7-5 and 6-0 wins in the final two sets to get UNG on the board.
However, the Cougars looked like they were going to win the match after victories in #6 and #3 singles.
Trailing 3-1 in the match, UNG’s previous 0-30 record against CSU weighed heavily on the remaining three matches.
Sophomore Marcos Castellanos kept hopes alive in #4 singles as he too manufactured a come-from-behind victory. After losing the first set 3-6, Castellanos battled to 6-4 and 6-2 wins in sets two and three.
Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) men’s singles No. 71 senior Robin Eldin then followed suit with a comeback win of his own in #2 singles.
Eldin lost the first set 2-6 to No. 57 Samer Al Tori. UNG was practically on a ventilator in the second set as Eldin fell behind 0-5. He then rattled off five straight victories to tie the set at 5-5. Tori won the next game to go ahead 6-5, but Eldin forced a tiebreaker by winning the next game.
In the tiebreaker, Eldin eked past Tori in the tiebreaker 8-6 to force a third set. He trailed again 3-1 in the final set before rallying for five straight victories to miraculously take the set 6-3 and win his match, tying the overall contest at 3-3.
The right to play in the PBC Championship would be decided by the result of the #1 singles match between No. 26 Pedro Liborio and Camilo Cano.
Liborio won the first set 7-5 to place himself in the driver’s seat against Cano. However, disaster struck in the second set as Liborio was hindered by an apparent injury. He continued to play but dropped the set 3-6, sending the match to a third and final set.
Still battling his injury, Liborio was finally forced to relent as he took a medical timeout with the set tied at 3-3. The junior transfer from Nevada dropped the first game after his medical timeout as Cano went ahead 4-3.
The Nighthawk men’s tennis team has recorded a number of thrilling and comeback wins already this season. Their resilience and ability to fight back has become a calling card for this team. However, they had yet to display anything resembling the likes of what Liborio and company did on Saturday.
Down 4-3, Liborio won three straight games to win the final set 6-4.
In the final point, Liborio battled back and forth with Cano. Finally, after 19 years and 30 consecutive losses to the Cougars, Cano’s shot sailed over the end line to end the match.
Liborio exhaustedly dropped his racket and fell to his knees. His teammates watching from the side let out a roar and charged the court to mob Liborio on the ground. The team dog piled on top of each other, exchanging hugs and belting out triumphant cries of relief.
UNG made history Saturday by defying the odds for yet another comeback victory. In their first tournament championship appearance, the Nighthawks can add to that history Sunday, April 27 as they have an opportunity to win the first PBC Tournament title in program history.
UNG will face top-seeded and No. 4 Flagler from Columbus, Ga. at 10 a.m. Sunday. The Nighthawks have not beaten Flagler since 2021. However, a four-year drought dwarfs in comparison to the 19-year dry spell UNG relinquished on Saturday. The odds may not be in their favor Sunday but, for the Nighthawks, that’s just where they want to be.
