ATHENS, Ga. – The FGCU doubles team of Elizabeth Means and Breana Stampfli advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA Southeast Regional on Friday at the University of Georgia's Dan Magill Tennis Complex. Friday's competition included the first round of doubles competition and the first and second rounds of singles competition.
 
"I'm proud of the way Elizabeth and Breana competed today," said FCGU head coach Courtney Vernon. "They're coming off a good showing at the Bedford Cup, and we'll see if they can keep the momentum going against some of the country's top competition tomorrow."
 
Means (Washington, D.C./Wiregrass Ranch HS) and Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago/St. Joseph's Covenant) won a hard fought match against FIU's Andrea Lazaro and Carlotta Orlando as they defeated the Panther tandem, 8-6. The FGCU duo advances to play Florida's Josie Kuhlman and Belinda Woolcock, the regional tournament's sixth-seeded doubles team, tomorrow at 10 a.m.
 
Later, Stampfli and Means were defeated in singles play after drawing two of the region's top individuals. Stampfli drew the tournament's top player and No. 2 singles player in the country in Florida's Brooke Austin, ultimately losing the match 6-1, 6-2. Means was matched up against Miami's Yolimar Ogando, who won the singles competition at last weekend's Bedford Cup, and was defeated 6-0, 6-0. Both will compete in Saturday's consolation round of 32 as Stampfli faces off with Stetson's Maja Salibasic at 12:30 p.m. and Means matches up with FIU's Lazaro at the same time.
 
FGCU RESULTS
Main Draw Doubles – First Round
Means/Stampfli (FGCU) def. Lazaro/Orlando (FIU) 8-6
 
Main Draw Singles – First Round
#94 Yolimar Ogando (UM) def. Elizabeth Means (FGCU) 6-0, 6-0
#2 Brooke Austin (UF) def. Breana Stampfli (FGCU) 6-1, 6-2
 
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's ITA Southeast Regional, the Green and Blue will travel to Miami, Fla., for the three-day FIU Fall Tournament beginning Friday, Oct. 30 and wrapping up Sunday, Nov. 1.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-date coverage of FGCU women's tennis, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_WTEN and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available.
 
HEAD COACH COURTNEY VERNON
FGCU's women's tennis team is led by Courtney Vernon, whose second season under the helm saw the Eagles finish third in the conference standings with the program's first-ever appearance in the Atlantic Sun Championship Final. She has produced nine A-Sun All-Conference selections and the 2014 A-Sun Freshman of the Year. She has led the Green and Blue to a 24-20 overall record (.545) and 10-4 conference record (.714) in her two years at FGCU.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE 
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.