ATLANTA, Ga. – The FGCU women's tennis team (1-2) claimed its first win of the season against the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech (0-4) on the campus of Georgia State. Freshman Julianna Curtis clinched the match for the Eagles when she defeated Taly Merker in the No. 6 slot.

"The ladies competed hard tonight," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "Julianna did a great job in clinching the match for the team. It was her first opportunity to do so in college, and she rose to the occasion. We look forward to playing tomorrow."

The duo of Elizabeth and Sarah Means (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch HS) won the first doubles match of the night against Jazmin Britos and Alexandra Starkova of LA Tech by a score of 6-4.  The Eagles clinched the doubles point when Alex Landert (Naples, Fla./Seton Hall) and Curtis (Tampa, Fla./Allendale Academy) defeated Taly Merker and Manoela Chiacchio by a tally of 6-1.

LA Tech was relentless though after losing in the doubles matches as they came out with a vengeance during the singles matches as Alexandra Starkova and Jazmin Britos took the No. 1 and No. 2 slot victories from Sarah Means and Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago/St. Joseph's Convent) by scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and 6-2, 6-2, respectively.

The first singles victory of the night for the Green and Blue came from Elizabeth Means when she battled against Marta Sramkova, and ultimately came away with the 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 win. Johanna Sterkel (Schwetzingen, Germany/Carl-Theodor-Schule HS) followed suit when she won her match 6-4, 6-3 against Tarrannum Handa. After another Bulldog win, Curtis gained the Eagles first victory of the season when she defeated Merker by a count of 6-4, 6-3.
The Eagles return to the court on Saturday when they face Georgia State at 3 p.m.

For complete coverage of FGCU women's tennis follow us on Twitter at @FGCU_WTEN and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available.

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.

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.

RESULTS:

SINGLES:
Alexandra Starkova (LA Tech) def. Sarah Means 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Jazmin Britos (LA Tech) def. Breana Stampfli 6-2, 6-2
Elizabeth Means (FGCU) def. Marta Sramkova (LA Tech) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
Johanna Sterkel (FGCU) def. Tarrannum Handa (LA Tech) 6-4, 6-3
Manoela Chiacchio (LA Tech) def. Candela Munoz Giron (FGCU) 6-2, 6-3
Julianna Curtis (FGCU) def. Taly Merker (LA Tech) 6-4, 6-3
 
DOUBLES:
Elizabeth Means/Sarah Means (FGCU) def. Jazmin Britos/Alexandra Starkova (LA Tech) 6-4
Johanna Sterkel/Breana Stampfli (FGCU) vs. Tarrannum Handa/Marta Sramkova (LA Tech) DNF
Alex Landert/Julianna Curtis (FGCU) def. Taly Merker/Manoela Chiacchio (LA Tech) 6-1