DeLAND, Fla. – The FGCU women's tennis team (8-11, 4-2 Atlantic Sun) fell to conference foe Stetson (15-4, 5-1 Atlantic Sun) by a 4-2 count at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles clinched the No. 3 seed for the A-Sun Championship.

"We played well in doubles today," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "Unfortunately we couldn't pull out enough wins in singles play. We need to have a good week of practice and get ready for the A-Sun Championships next weekend."  

The sister duo of Elizabeth and Sarah Means (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch HS) defeated Isabella Fernandez and Eveline Lepinay by an 8-6 count in the No. 1 doubles slot. Johanna Sterkel (Schwetzingen, Germany/Carl-Theodor-Schule HS) and Alex Landert (Naples, Fla./Seton Hall) picked up the second match win in doubles play against Arijana Korac and Maja Salibasic to give the Eagles the first point by an 8-4 score in the No. 3 doubles slot.

The only other point on the day for the Eagles came from Sterkel in the No. 3 singles slot. Sterkel made quick work of Arijana Korac with a 6-0, 6-0 victory. With the win, the junior improves her record to 15-3 during the dual season. Sterkel has been a strong force in the middle of the Eagles' lineup as the Schwetzingen, Germany native has wins over opponents from UCF, No. 61 Georgia State, No. 59 USF and No. 9 Miami.

The A-Sun Championship will get underway next weekend (Apr. 17-19) at the UNF Tennis Complex in Jacksonville, Fla. Last year, the Eagles fell in the semifinals to former A-Sun member East Tennessee State University, 4-1.

FINAL RESULTS

Stetson: 4 FGCU: 2

SINGLES
1. Alizee Michaud (STET) def. Sarah Means (FGCU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Isabella Fernandez (STET) def. Breana Stampfli (FGCU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-0
3. Johanna Sterkel (FGCU) def. Arijana Korac (STET) 6-0, 6-0
4. Ashley Dean (STET) vs. Candela Munoz Giron (FGCU) DNF
5. Carolina Meregalli (STET) def. Elizabeth Means (FGCU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Eveline Lepinay (STET) def. Alex Landert (FGCU) 6-2, 6-0

DOUBLES
1. Elizabeth Means/Sarah Means (FGCU) def. Isabella Fernandez/Eveline Lepinay (STET) 8-6
2. Breana Stampfli/Candela Munoz Giron (FGCU) vs. Alizee Michaud/Ashley Dean (STET) no result
3. Alex Landert/Johanna Sterkel (FGCU) def. Arijana Korac/Maja Salibasic (STET) 8-4

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.