JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For the first time in program history, the FGCU women's tennis team (10-11) will play for an Atlantic Sun Conference Championship as the 3rd-seeded Eagles claimed another impressive tournament win by a 4-1 margin over 2nd-seeded Stetson Saturday at the North Florida Tennis Complex.
With the victory, FGCU advances to Sunday's title match where it will play top-seeded and host UNF (16-3) at 10 a.m. The Ospreys shut out 4th-seeded Lipscomb, 4-0, in the other semifinal.

After storming out to quick start by winning the doubles point courtesy of 8-1 and 8-2 decisions, the Eagles received straight-set singles wins from Breana Stampfli, Candela Munoz Giron and Johanna Sterkel to ice the contest early.

"The girls played with a lot of focus today," stated FGCU head coach Courtney Vernon. "We are looking forward to playing again tomorrow. We will continue to fight for every point."

FGCU started the day with a dominant 8-1 doubles victory out of the No. 3 slot as Johanna Sterkel (Schwetzingen, Germany/Carl-Theodor-Schule HS) and Alex Landert (Naples, Fla./Seton Hall) teamed up to take down the Stetson duo of Arijana Korac and Maja Salibasic.

Shortly after, the No. 1 duo team of  Sarah and Elizabeth Means (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch HS) rolled to an 8-2 triumph over Isabella Fernandez and Eveline Lepinay to seal the doubles point and give the Green and Blue a 1-0 lead. The sisters are now 2-0 out of the top doubles spot in the A-Sun Championship following an 8-3 win in Friday's quarterfinal round.

That lead quickly blossomed to 2-0 as Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago/St. Joseph's Convent) easily dispatched Arijana Korac in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 3 singles. Stampfli continues a great tournament as she has dropped just one set all championship, winning 6-1, 6-0, on Friday.
The Eagles also took first-set wins in the No. 2 and 4 positions as Sterkel claimed a 6-0 decision and Candela Munoz Giron (Alicante, Spain/Troy) jumped out to a 6-3 edge. Stetson took the win at No. 6 singles to trim the deficit in half, 2-1, but those two responded with victories to ice the match. 

Munoz Giron put the Eagles ahead, 3-1, after securing a second-set 6-3 victory over Ashley Dean, leaving Sterkel with a chance to secure the match.
Stetson's Isabella Fernandez came back to force a second-set tiebreak, but Sterkel staved off the effort and won the set, 7-6, to send the Eagles to the A-Sun Championship final.

Inclement weather approaching the area could cause Sunday's match to be altered. For the latest news, stayed tuned to Twitter by following @FGCU_WTEN and online at FGCUAthletics.com.

FINAL RESULTS
FGCU: 4 Stetson: 1

SINGLES
1. Sarah Means (FGCU) vs. #90 Alizee Michaud (SU) 3-6, 4-5 DNF
2. Johanna Sterkel (FGCU) def. Isabella Fernandez (SU) 6-0, 7-6
3. Breana Stampfli (FGCU) def. Arijana Korac (SU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Candela Munoz Giron (FGCU) def. Ashley Dean (SU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Elizabeth Means (FGCU) vs. Carolina Meregalli (SU) 6-4, 5-2 DNF
6 Eveline Lepinay (SU) def. Alex Landert (FGCU) 4-6, 2-6 
Order of Finish: 3, 6, 4, 2

DOUBLES
1. Sarah Means/Elizabeth Means (FGCU) def. Isabella Fernandez/Eveline Lepinay (SU) 8-2
2. Candela Munoz Giron/Breana Stampfli (FGCU) vs. Alizee Michaud/Ashley Dean (SU) 5-6, DNF
3. Johanna Sterkel/Alex Landert (FGCU) def. Arijana Korac/Maja Salibasic (SU) 8-1
Order of Finish: 3, 1

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.