CORAL GABLES, Fla – After a pair of victories from the No. 1 doubles and No. 1 singles slots, senior co-captain Jordi Vives became the first player in the program history to win a combination of 100 matches (38 doubles, 62 singles) as the FGCU men's tennis team (4-1) defeated Liberty (4-2) by a score of 6-1 at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Miami.
 
"What a special moment for Jordi," head coach CJ Weber said. "He's had such a decorated career here, and it's so easy to be appreciative of what he brings to the table every day as a competitor. Jordi has meant so much more than wins and losses to our program as well. He has been a leader and motivator since day one on campus, and I consider myself very blessed to be able to coach him every day."
 
For the third match in a row, the Eagles claimed the No. 2 doubles match with a score of 6-0, as sophomore Andres Alfonzo (Hollywood, Fla./Texas Christian University) and freshman Austin Bates (Marietta, Ga./Pope HS) made a quick work of Liberty's Jorge Azuero and Diego Castano. Going into the match with 98 total wins, Vives was determined to get No. 99 as he teamed up with fellow co-captain Tianyu Bao (Tianjin, China/Bayshore HS (Bradenton, Fla.)) to claim a 6-3 decision over Egon Samaai and Dillon Segur of the Flames.
 
"Today was a good learning opportunity for us," Weber added. "Liberty fought extremely hard, even after we gained control of the match early on. They forced us to close out the match and put a lot of pressure on us to finish matches. I felt we responded well, and it's nice to get another 6-1 win over a quality opponent."
 
Carrying a 1-0 lead into singles action, FGCU gained an early advantage over Liberty in the contest as the Eagles claimed three of their first six sets. Bates gave the Green and Blue their second point of the day after a powerful 6-2, 6-2 score over Jason Burgess in the No. 6 slot.
 
Shortly after Bates' triumph, Michael Beiler (Palm Harbor, Fla./Dunedin HS) increased FGCU's lead to 3-0 after a 6-1, 7-6(3) over Diego Castano in the No. 5 slot. After a quick first set, Beiler was engaged in a tight contest which ultimately had to be decided by a tiebreaker. Beiler rose to the occasion as he powered through to grab the victory.
 
After being down 3-0, Liberty started to retaliate from all courts as the Flames managed to get the match into the third set in the No. 1, 2 and 4 slots. However, the Eagles responded with authority as Andres Alfonzo toughed out a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Sam Matheson in the No. 2 slot, and the clinching point for the Green and Blue. After dropping the first set, Andres was committed to playing discipline tennis as the sophomore turned around the match in the second and third set en route to his fourth singles win of the spring season.
 
Point number 5 for the Eagles came from Vives in the No. 1 slot against Dillon Segur. After dropping a close first set, 4-6, Vives did not let the match slip away as the senior grinded out the second set, 7-5. In the deciding third set, Vives made sure to let nothing distract him as he dominated the third with a 6-1 decision, and victory No. 100 as an Eagle. Vives will look to become the winningest FGCU D1 singles player ever tomorrow against Miami as the Barcelona, Spain native currently has 62 singles wins which ties him for the all-time record with former great and current assistant coach Dean Tsamas.
 
"It was an awesome day for the team and myself," Vives said. "These 100 wins definitely prove that I made the right decision to come to FGCU after transferring from USC. Now it is time to move on and focus on Miami tomorrow. We are ready."
 
Junior Ricky Ventura (Barcelona, Spain/University of Barcelona) rounded out the day for the Eagles with a three set win over Jorge Azuero in the No. 4 slot. Ventura claimed the first set 6-3 before Azuero stormed back with a 6-1 second set score. In the third set both players played a high level of tennis to the tiebreaker, Ventura stayed consistent while Azuero was troubled with a left leg cramp as the junior transfer from University of Barcelona claimed the tiebreaker 7-4, and point No. 6 for the Eagles.
 
The Eagles will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. against No. 52 Miami.

FINAL SCORE
FGCU: 6 Liberty: 1

Doubles
1. Vives/Bao (FGCU) def. Segur/Samaai (Liberty) 6-3
2. A. Alfonzo/Bates (FGCU) def. Matheson/Azuero (Liberty) 6-0
3. Ventura/Vaz (FGCU) vs. Castano/Bush (Liberty) DNF

Singles

1. Vives (FGCU) def. Segur (Liberty) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
2. A. Alfonzo (FGCU) def. Matheson (Liberty) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Samaai (Liberty) def. E. Alfonzo (FGCU) 7-6 (6), 6-4
4. Ventura (FGCU) def. Azuero (Liberty) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(4)
5. Beiler (FGCU) def. Castano (Liberty) 6-1, 7-6(4)
6. Bates (FGCU) def. Burgess (Liberty) 6-2. 6-2

Order of finish:
Doubles: 2,1. singles: 6,5,3,2,1,4.
 
CJ WEBER
FGCU is led by CJ Weber, who has coached 10 A-Sun All-Conference selections since joining the Green and Blue in 2011. In his third season, Weber guided Jordi Vives to a No. 35 national ranking, a nation-leading 14-match unbeaten streak and the round of 32 in the 2014 NCAA Tournament – the program's first appearance. His teams have continually posted winning records and finished the 2014 season a Division-I best third in the conference with 12 wins.
 
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