FORT MYERS, Fla. – After jumping out to an early lead in doubles play and appearing to be in control at the start of singles competition, the FGCU women's tennis team (4-5) couldn't hold on as 24-time NCAA participant Tennessee (6-4) defeated the Eagles, 5-2, Sunday morning at the FGCU Tennis Complex.
 
Today's loss marked the first time this season the Green and Blue have failed to hold on to lead after winning the vital doubles point.
 
"Today was a really tough match for the girls," said FGCU head coach Courtney Vernon. "We're learning every time we step on the court. The more challenges we face, the more we will grow. We're looking forward to getting back to work on Tuesday and growing from today."
 
FGCU and Tennessee traded doubles wins in the first two matches of the morning. Julia Ascua (Santa Fe, Argentina/Domingo G. Silva) and Julianna Curtis (Tampa, Fla./Allendale Academy) improved their doubles record to 4-1 with an impressive 6-2 win against Brittany Lindl and Kim Kermet in the No. 2 position. The Volunteers then evened it up as Sadie Hammond and Eve Repic defeated FGCU's top tandem of Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago/St. Joseph's Convent) and Joselyn Treyes Albarracin (Guayaquil, Ecuador/InterAmerican Academy) by an identical score of 6-2 to make the No. 3 doubles game the deciding factor in the point. With the pressure mounting early, Elizabeth Means (Washington, D.C./Wiregrass Ranch HS) and Laura Falceto Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza) claimed the pivotal point with a 6-4 win against MC Meredith and Tiffany Tavares.
 
After maintaining the momentum for the early stages of singles play and holding a lead in four of six matches following the first set, the Green and Blue couldn't keep it going as they dropped five of the six remaining points. Their lone singles win of the day came in the No. 6 position as Curtis recorded a 6-4, 6-4, against Schuck. Results from the five remaining singles matches are included below.
 
FRIDAY RESULTS
Doubles
No. 1 Doubles: Hammond/Repic (UT) def. Stampfli/Treyes Albarracin (FGCU): 6-2
No. 2 Doubles: Ascua/Curtis (FGCU) def. Lindl/Kermet (UT): 6-2
No. 3 Doubles: Means/Falceto Font (FGCU) def. Meredith/Tavares (UT): 6-4
 
Singles
No. 1 Singles: Hammond (UT) def. Stampfli (FGCU): 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 Singles: Repic (UT) def. Treyes Albarracin (FGCU): 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 Singles: Kermet (UT) def. Ascua (FGCU): 6-3, 7-5
No. 4 Singles: Meredith (UT) def. Means (FGCU): 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 Singles: Lindl (UT) def. Falceto Font (FGCU): 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 Singles: Curtis (FGCU) def. Schuck (UT): 6-4, 6-4
 
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3); Singles (5, 3, 4, 6, 1, 2)
 
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.