FORT MYERS, Fla. – Despite a vigilant fight in the singles contest, the FGCU women's tennis team was unable to earn the victory as the Eagles fell to No. 59 Minnesota by a score of 6-1 on Monday night at the FGCU Tennis Complex.

With the loss, FGCU drops to 2-9 on the season while Minnesota improves to 11-4.

"Minnesota competed better than us tonight," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "We have the opportunity to grow a lot, and we are looking forward to starting conference play on Thursday."

The sister duo of Elizabeth and Sarah Means (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch HS) won the first doubles match of the evening against Tereza Brichacova and Paula Rincon Otero of Minnesota by a score of 8-2. The Gophers went on to win the next two doubles events to take an early lead in the match.

The Gophers came out to the singles matches with authority, claiming all six first sets in dominating fashion. However, the Eagles started to retaliate from all courts, determined to fight until the end, but Minnesota showed what a No. 59 team in the country is made of after putting away the match in the No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 slots.

Earning the lone point of the day was Elizabeth Means in the No. 5 slot against Minnesota's Maja Vujic 7-6, 7-5. Vujic was playing on a high level for the entire match, but Means played on an even better level to turn a close match into a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.

FGCU will open up the Atlantic Sun Conference play as the Eagles visit Kennesaw State on Mar. 19 at 10 a.m. and USC Upstate on Mar. 21 at 10 a.m.

FINAL SCORE:

No. 59 Minnesota 6 FGCU: 1

SINGLES
1. Tereza Brichacova (MINN) def. Sarah Means (FGCU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Caroline Ryba (MINN) def. Breana Stampfli (FGCU) 6-3, 7-5
3. Jessika Mozia (MINN) def. Johanna Sterkel (FGCU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Elizabeth Means (FGCU) def. Maja Vujic (MINN) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Aria Lambert (MINN) def. Candela Munoz Giron (FGCU) 6-0, 6-4
6. Julia Courter (MINN) def. Alex Landert (FGCU) 6-4, 6-1
 
DOUBLES
1. Elizabeth Means/Sarah Means (FGCU) def. Tereza Brichacova/Paula Rincon Otero (MINN) 8-2
2. Jessika Mozia/Julia Courter (MINN) def. Breana Stampfli/Candela Munoz Giron (FGCU) 8-4
3. Caroline Ryba/Mehvish Safdar (MINN) def. Johanna Sterkel/Alex Landert (FGCU) 8-2

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.

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