TAMPA, Fla. – The FGCU women's tennis team hits the road for a pair of dual matches against in-state opponents USF and Bethune-Cookman this weekend. Following their match in Tampa on Friday at noon, the Eagles will travel across the state to Daytona Beach to play the Wildcats on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
"This weekend will be a great opportunity for us to grow," said FGCU head coach Courtney Vernon. "With two matches on the road, the girls are hungry to compete and continue to work hard while being challenged through competition."
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Eagles will head North in search of their first win in program history against the Bulls while also looking to keep their perfect record intact against the Wildcats. FGCU is 0-5 all-time against USF and 7-0 all-time versus Bethune-Cookman.
 
USF is off to a 0-2 start in dual matches this season after dropping a 4-3 decision to St. John's on Jan. 19, followed by a 6-1 loss at No. 3 Florida on Jan. 27. In singles play, the Bulls are led by freshman Nicole Dzenga, who entered the season ranked as the No. 78 singles player in the country according to the ITA. In doubles action, the duo of Olga Martinez and Jessica Chaves look to be USF's top tandem to this point in the season.
 
The defending MEAC Conference Champion Wildcats begin their dual season as they host Campbell on Friday before welcoming the Eagles to Daytona Beach on Saturday, when FGCU will look to claim its eighth-straight match against Bethune-Cookman. In the fall, the Wildcats were led by Ancia Ifill in singles play while the duos of Ifill/Matea Roki and Mina Matsuba/Alejandra Vidal both posted 2-1 records.
 
FGCU has already competed against both team this season as the Bulls and Wildcats traveled to Fort Myers for the Bedford Cup back in October.
 
LAST TIME OUT
FGCU dropped its first dual match of the season by a 4-0 margin to in-state rival FIU on Saturday, Jan. 23 at the FGCU Tennis Complex.
 
The Eagles got off to a fast start in doubles play as they held a lead of at least 1-0 in all three matches. However, a pair of FIU tandems were able to battle back to win their respective matches and claim the point for the Panthers.
 
In singles play, the Green and Blue weren't able to overcome early deficits as they fell behind on all six courts. Ascúa was defeated by Nagode after dropping identical sets of 6-2 in No. 2 singles, while Curtis and Treyes Albarracin mounted late comebacks but ultimately lost to FIU's Lazaro and Caluk by respective scores of 6-0, 6-4 in No. 5 singles and 6-0, 6-3 in No. 4 singles. 

UP NEXT
The Green and Blue will return to Fort Myers and the FGCU Tennis Complex as they face their fourth-straight in-state opponent in UCF on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m.
 
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 24-21 overall record (.533) 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.