FORT MYERS, Fla. – Following a strong performance at the FGCU Spring Invite last weekend, the FGCU women's tennis team gets its dual-match season underway as they host in-state rival FIU at the FGCU Tennis Complex on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
"We're looking forward to starting our dual-match season tomorrow against FIU," said FGCU head coach Courtney Vernon. "The girls have been working very hard and are coming off a good showing at the Spring Invite last weekend. We're excited to compete again at home."
 
SCOUTING FIU
FGCU is 1-3 all-time against FIU, with their lone win coming as they defeated the Panthers by a 4-3 margin during the 2012-13 season. Most recently, FIU defeated the Green and Blue by a 6-1 margin in Miami a season ago. The two teams are familiar with each other as they met twice during the fall season, first at the Bedford Cup hosted by FGCU from Oct. 16-18 and then at the FIU Invitational from Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
 
In singles play, the Panthers are led by Nerma Caluk, who is the No. 69 ranked player in the country, according to the latest ITA poll released Jan. 5. She has posted a 12-3 record to this point in the season and won the 'B' draw championship at the aforementioned Bedford Cup. In doubles play, the tandem of Nina Nagode and Maryna Veksler are off to a 5-3 start and will likely present a challenge to the Eagles.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Green and Blue are coming off a strong performance at the FGCU Spring Invite last weekend, during which they claimed a pair of singles titles to go along with a doubles title. 
 
Joselyn Treyes Albarracin (Guayaquil, Ecuador/InterAmerican Academy) won the 'B' draw championship after defeating teammate Julia Ascúa (Santa Fe, Argentina/Domingo G. Silva) in the final round, 6-2, 6-1. Additionally, Julianna Curtis (Tampa, Fla./Allendale Academy) made quick work of the 'C' draw bracket as she won the championship by defeating Jaide Collins of St. John's, 6-2, 6-2.
 
In doubles action, the FGCU duo of Laura Falceto Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza) and Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago/St. Joseph's Convent) claimed the 'B' draw title after winning a back-and-forth match versus Judith Bohnenkamp and Barbora Kijasova of Barry University, 7-6 (4). The Green and Blue jumped out to a 5-2 advantage and looked to cruise to the title. However, the Barry tandem fought back to take a 6-5 lead before Falceto Font and Stampfli finished strong to force a tiebreak and ultimately win the match by the aforementioned margin.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles will continue with the dual season and hit the road for this first time this spring as they have a match versus in-state rival USF scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. in Tampa, Fla.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-date coverage of FGCU women's tennis, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_WTEN and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available.
 
HEAD COACH COURTNEY VERNON
FGCU's women's tennis team is led by Courtney Vernon, whose second season under the helm saw the Eagles finish third in the conference standings with the program's first-ever appearance in the Atlantic Sun Championship Final. She has produced nine A-Sun All-Conference selections and the 2014 A-Sun Freshman of the Year. She has led the Green and Blue to a 24-20 overall record (.545) and 10-4 conference record (.714) in her two years at FGCU.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE 
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.