MOBILE, Ala. – [Bracket | Schedule] After early morning weather pushed back the start of the 2024 NAIA Women’s Tennis National Championship, Georgia Gwinnett went on to claim its eighth consecutive national championship in women’s tennis on Saturday evening, using a comeback to defeat No. 2 Keiser University (Fla.) at the Mobile Tennis Center.

The top-ranked Grizzlies stormed back from a 3-1 deficit against the Seahawks on Saturday, relying on three separate three-set matches to clinch the NAIA Red Banner. Keiser (Fla.) immediately pressured the defending champions, grabbing the doubles point and wins across No. 3 and 5 singles. Georgia Gwinnett’s Versace Gatti put the Grizzlies on the board with a 6-2, 6-2 win from No. 4 singles.

After dropping set one across the No. 1, 2, and 6 singles matches, Georgia Gwinnett kept composure and secured the remaining sets to earn this year’s national title.

From No. 1 singles, Justine Lespes collected a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win, while Iryna Lysykh won 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 6-4 from the second-seeded singles match. Finally, Stephanie Fernandez came up with the match-clincher from No. 6 singles, earning a 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory.

Following the match, the 2024 NAIA Tennis Championship Tournament Committee presented team and individual awards, with Justine Lespes being named the Marvin P. Richmond Outstanding Player. The Marvin P. Richmond Outstanding Player is presented annually to the individual in the tournament who has exhibited outstanding play, leadership, and sportsmanship. For Lespes, the individual honor is her second straight.

Finally, Georgia Gwinnett head coach Hannah Keeling was named the 2024 NAIA Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year for the second-straight season after leading her team to a perfect 18-0 record on the year. The award is Keeling’s second of her young coaching career and comes after she claimed the honor of the NAIA Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year earlier in the day.