JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The third-seeded FGCU women's tennis team ended its season with a 4-1 loss to No. 1 North Florida in the Atlantic Sun Championship final on Sunday afternoon at the UNF Tennis Complex.

With the loss, the Eagles conclude their season with a 10-12 record while UNF improved its record to 17-3. After the match junior Johanna Sterkel (Schwetzingen, Germany/Carl-Theodor-Schule HS) and junior Elizabeth Means (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch HS) were named to the A-Sun All-Tournament Team. During the A-Sun Championship Sterkel went 2-0 in singles play and 1-1 in doubles play while Elizabeth Means had a 2-1 doubles record.

"The girls were very challenged in the finals today," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "UNF did a better job of stepping up on the big points. I am grateful for the steps that the girls are making. I am also very grateful for Sarah [Means] and Candela [Munoz Giron] and all they have given to the program as seniors."

UNF took the doubles point after wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. At the top-seed Taylor Hollander and Esther Zuniga defeated Sarah Means (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch HS) and Elizabeth Means, 8-3. Quetzali Vazquez and Marina Cunningham defeated Johanna Sterkel (Schwetzingen, Germany/Carl-Theodor-Schule HS) and Alex Landert (Naples, Fla./Seton Hall) in the No. 3 slot by an 8-1 count.

In singles, the Ospreys grabbed two quick wins at the No. 1 and No. 6 positions to go up 3-0. Esther Zuniga defeated Sarah Means, 6-0, 6-4, at the No. 1 while at No. 6 Luise Intert beat Landert 6-4, 6-0.

Ensuring that FGCU was not held scoreless was Sterkel posting a win in the No. 2 slot. Handing Michelle Valdez a straight-set loss, Sterkel took the first set, 6-4, and controlled the second for a 6-3 win.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, their scoring ways ended there as the next match to finish clinched the contest for UNF as Vazquez defeated Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago/St. Joseph's Convent), 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 3 slot.

FINAL RESULTS

No. 1 UNF: 4 No. 3 FGCU: 1

SINGLES
1. Esther Zuniga (UNF) def. Sarah Means (FGCU) 6-0, 6-4
2. Johanna Sterkel (FGCU) def. Michelle Valdez (UNF) 6-4, 6-3
3. Quetzali Vazquez (UNF) def. Breana Stampfli (FGCU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Taylor Hollander (UNF) vs. Candela Munoz Giron (FGCU) 1-6, 3-2, DNF
5. Marina Cunningham (UNF) vs. Elizabeth Means (FGCU) 6-7 (5-7), 1-1, DNF
6. Luise Intert (UNF) def. Alex Landert (FGCU) 6-4, 6-0

DOUBLES
1. Taylor Hollander/Esther Zuniga (UNF) def. Sarah Means/Elizabeth Means (FGCU) 8-3
2. Luise Intert/Rebeca Pereira (UNF) vs. Candela Munoz Giron/Breana Stampfli (FGCU) 3-5, DNF
3. Quetzali Vazquez/Marina Cunningham (UNF) def. Johanna Sterkel/Alex Landert (FGCU) 8-1

A-SUN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Tournament MVP: Esther Zuniga, North Florida

Hannah Gamage, Lipscomb
Elizabeth Means, FGCU
Johanna Sterkel, FGCU
Marina Cunningham, North Florida
Quetzali Vazquez, North Florida
Esther Zuniga, North Florida
 
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.