FORT MYERS, Fla. – After battling No. 47 Georgia State to the brink of defeat for much of the late afternoon, the FGCU women's tennis team (4-4) ultimately dropped its match to the Panthers (5-1) by a final margin of 4-3 on Friday evening at the FGCU Tennis Complex.
 
After the Panthers claimed the doubles point, the two teams traded wins in the first four singles matches before Georgia State freshman Chiara Volejnicek claimed the match with a win in No. 5 singles.
 
"The girls are competing hard," said FGCU head coach Courtney Vernon. "We made a lot of progress against a tough team tonight, but we need to continue to focus on getting better in doubles play and challenging each each other to grow every day."
 
Georgia State got out to an early 1-0 lead after defeating FGCU is a pair of quick doubles matches. In the No. 3 position, Volejnicek and Daniela Ramirez teamed up and took down FGCU's Elizabeth Means (Washington, D.C./Wiregrass Ranch HS) and Laura Falceto Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza), 6-1. Minutes later, the Panthers' No. 1 duo of Linn Timmermann and Tarani Kamoe defeated the Eagles' top tandem of Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago/St. Joseph's Convent) and Joselyn Treyes Albarracin (Guayaquil, Ecuador/InterAmerican Academy), 6-2. With the doubles point already claimed by visiting Panthers, Julia Ascua (Santa Fe, Argentina/Domingo G. Silva) and Julianna Curtis (Tampa, Fla./Allendale Academy) trailed Niri Rasolomalala and Kristin Rehse, 4-3, in the No. 2 position.
 
The Green and Blue began to battle back at the start of singles play as Curtis registered a quick 6-3, 6-2 win over Ramirez in No. 6 singles to tie the score, 1-1. Georgia State then reclaimed the lead as Rasolomalala defeated Means in No. 6 singles by a final score of 6-4, 6-1. In the No. 3 position, Treyes Albarracin tied the score for a second times and won her third-consecutive match after defeating Vovk in straight sets with back-to-back scores of 6-4, 6-4. Then, the nationally-ranked Panthers retook the lead for good as Rehse won a three-set match against Ascua in No. 2 singles. After winning the first set, 7-5, the Argentina native ran out of gas and dropped the remaining two sets 6-0 and 6-3. Georgia State then claimed the match as Volejnicek registered a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win against Falceto Font. The FGCU freshman battled back after a first-set loss to force a deciding third set, but ultimately couldn't tie the score and extend the match. With the dual already wrapped up, Stampfli showed guts to win a three-set match against Georgia State's top player with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 win against Timmermann.
 
FRIDAY RESULTS
Doubles
No. 1 Doubles: Timmermann/Kamoe (GSU) def. Stampfli/Treyes Albarracin (FGCU): 6-2
No. 2 Doubles: Curtis/Ascua (FGCU) vs. Rasolomalala/Rehse (GSU): DNF (3-4)
No. 3 Doubles: Volejnicek/Ramirez (GSU) def. Means/Falceto Font (FGCU): 6-1
 
Singles
No. 1 Singles: Stampfli (FGCU) def. Timmermann (GSU): 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 Singles: Rehse (GSU) def. Ascua (FGCU): 5-7, 6-0, 6-3
No. 3 Singles: Treyes Albarracin (FGCU) def. Vovk (GSU): 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 Singles: Rasolomalala (GSU) def. Means (FGCU): 6-4, 6-1
No. 5 Singles: Volejnicek (GSU) def. Falceto Font (FGCU): 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
No. 6 Singles: Curtis (FGCU) def. Ramirez (GSU): 6-3, 6-2
 
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2); Singles (6, 4, 3, 2, 5, 1)
 
UP NEXT
FGCU will take a break from competition with its next match scheduled for Wednesday, March 9 at 11 a.m. at the FGCU Tennis Complex, when UTEP will come to town to take on the Green and Blue. Four matches remain in the seven-match homestand.
 
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 26-22 overall record (.542) 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.