FORT MYERS, Fla. – After dropping their season-opener a couple weeks ago against ACC foe No. 68 Syracuse by a narrow score of 4-3, the FGCU women's tennis team (0-1) continues to search for its first win of the season as the Eagles hit the road for the first time this spring season to take on UCF Friday at 1 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT
FGCU was last on the courts this past Saturday at the FGCU Spring Invite against quality programs in Northwestern State, Arkansas State, Iowa State, Miami (Ohio), Southern Mississippi and FAU. The Eagles collected 17 total wins over the three-day event.

SYRACUSE
The Eagles came out to the doubles courts with authority opposite the Orange as freshman Juliana Curtis and junior transfer Alex Landert wasted no time on No 3 slot, claiming a no-nonsense 6-0 win over Syracuse's Nicole Mitchell and Olivia Messineo. On No. 1 slot, the sister duo of Sarah and Elizabeth Means toughed out a nail-biter against the Orange duo of Amanda Rodgers and Rhiann Newborn with a score of 7-6 (7).
 
Up 1-0 going into the singles action, the Eagles were poised to claim the upset but the Orange scored four hard-fought points on No. 1, 2, 3 and 6 slots as all four matches were decided by a narrow margin.
 
MEANS SISTERS
The Means sisters shined this past weekend at the FGCU Spring Invite as they claimed eight out of FGCU's 17 total wins. The younger sister Elizabeth stepped up her singles game as the junior earned four singles victories over the weekend. With her No. 4 slot win against the Orange in the season-opener, Elizabeth is currently 5-1 on the singles court in her young spring season.
 
The eldest sister, Sarah, also claimed two singles matches over the weekend in the ultra-competitive top singles draw against players from cross-state rival FAU and Big 12 foe Iowa State.
 
On the doubles court, the Means have been equally impressive as they claimed three wins together from pairs from Arkansas State and FAU. After their win from No. 1 slot against Syracuse, the sisters duo is currently 4-2 this spring season.

SCOUTING UCF
American Athletics Conference foe Central Florida, led by eighth-year head coach Stephanie Nickitas, finished the 2014 spring campaign with a 7-13 (0-3 AAC) record and a second round appearance at the American Championship. The Knights singles lineup is led by Kennan Johnson, who went 3-0 last weekend at the UCF Quad Tournament against FIU, Iowa and ITA Preseason No. 97 Louise Kwong of Illinois. Johnson also teamed up with Caroline Eberhart for a 3-0 record on the doubles court as they defeated teams from FIU, Iowa and Illinois.
 
FGCU is 0-5 all time against the UCF. Last year the Eagles dropped a heartbreaker 4-3 against the Knights at the FGCU Tennis Complex. After dropping the doubles point, the Eagles fought back on the singles court and ultimately forced the match to a score of 3-3, Breana Stampfli was engaged in the winner-takes-all third set tiebreaker on No. 2 slot, but her valiant effort wasn't enough as the Knights claimed the tiebreaker 10-8, and a 4-3 victory over the Eagles.
 
NEXT UP
The Eagles will travel to the capital of the Peach State next weekend to face LA Tech, Georgia State and Middle Tennessee from Jan. 30 to Feb 1.
 
COURTNEY VERNON
FGCU is led by Courtney Vernon, whose inaugural campaign saw the Eagles finish third in the conference standings with a Division-I best 14 wins overall in 2013-14. She has produced five A-Sun All-Conference selections and the 2014 Freshman of the Year.
 
#WINGSUP
Fans are encouraged to download the brand-new Wings Up mobile app in conjunction with SuperFanU. The fully-customized loyalty-rewards platform allows fans to check in at each of FGCU's sporting events to earn points throughout the school year toward exclusive prizes that can't be offered anywhere else.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For complete coverage of FGCU women's tennis at the FGCU Spring Invite, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_WTEN and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available at the end of each day.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.