KENNESAW, Ga. – After enduring a challenging schedule, the FGCU women's tennis team (3-9, 1-0 Atlantic Sun) picked up its third win on the season over Kennesaw State (1-8, 0-1 Atlantic Sun) on Friday afternoon at the Fair Oaks Tennis Center by a 6-1 score.

The match against Kennesaw State was originally slated for Thursday, Mar. 19, at 10 a.m., but inclement weather in the area forced the schedule change.

"The girls played with a lot of energy today," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "It was a good start to our conference season, and we look forward to playing USC Upstate tomorrow morning."

The duo of Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago/St. Joseph's Convent) and Candela Munoz Giron (Alicante, Spain/Troy) defeated the Owls' pair of Ashleigh De Wet and Abbie Grant by an 8-2 count in the No. 2 doubles slot while Johanna Sterkel (Schwetzingen, Germany/Carl-Theodor-Schule HS) and Alex Landert (Naples, Fla./Seton Hall) picked up the second match win against Cristina Martin and Alexandra Mercado in doubles play to give the Eagles the first point by an 8-0 score in the No. 3 doubles slot.

The first singles victory of the afternoon came from junior Elizabeth Means (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch HS) in the No. 5 slot when she defeated Christina Martin by a 6-3, 6-1 score. Mean's game was on point the entire contest, leaving no chance for Martin to make a comeback bid, to give FGCU a 2-0 lead.

Sterkel joined Elizabeth Means with a quick win of her own after a dominating 6-3, 6-1 score over Alexandra Mercado in the No. 3 slot. With the win the Schwetzingen, Germany native improves her team leading record to 8-3 on the season. The junior has been a strong force in the middle of the Eagles' lineup with wins over opponents from UCF, Georgia State, No. 59 USF and No. 9 Miami.

Stampfli clinched the victory for the Eagles in the No. 2 slot when she defeated Jana Hueckinghaus of the Owls. The sophomore won the first set by a close 6-4 count before dropping the second set 4-6. Stampfli then rose to the occasion in the third set to earn the match win by a 10-4 count.
 
Shortly after Stampfli won the match for the Eagles, Landert won the fifth match of the day with ease over De Wet in the No. 6 slot by a 6-0, 6-1 score. Rounding out the day for the Eagles was Munoz Giron winning 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 4 slot against Isabela Castro. The senior played aggressive the entire match to ensure the final match win for the Green and Blue.

The Eagles conclude their road trip in the Palmetto State when they take on USC Upstate on Saturday, Mar 21, at 10 a.m.

FINAL RESULTS

FGCU: 6 Kennesaw State: 1

DOUBLES

1. Virginie Stein/Jana Hueckinghaus (KSU) def. Sarah Means/Elizabeth Means (FGCU) 6-5
2. Breana Stampfli/Candela Munoz Giron (FGCU) def. Ashleigh De Wet/Abbie Grant (KSU) 8-2
3. Johanna Sterkel/Alex Landert (FGCU) def. Cristina Martin/Alexandra Mercado (KSU) 8-0

SINGLES

1. Virginie Stein (KSU) def. Sarah Means (FGCU) 6-4, 2-6 (10-8)
2. Breana Stampfli (FGCU) def. Jana Hueckinghaus (KSU) 6-4, 4-6 (10-4)
3. Johanna Sterkel (FGCU) def. Alexandra Mercado (KSU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Candela Munoz Giron (FGCU) def. Isabela Castro (KSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Elizabeth Means (FGCU) def. Cristina Martin (KSU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Alex Landert (FGCU) def. Ashleigh De Wet (KSU) 6-0, 6-1

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.

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