STATESBORO, Ga. – FGCU split a pair of matches over the weekend, facing both Troy and Georgia Southern in Georgia. The weekend began with a tough 4-2 loss to the Trojans Saturday before the Green and Blue ended the weekend on a positive note, defeating Georgia Southern 4-3 Sunday. FGCU is now 9-4 on the season. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern is also 9-4 and Troy is 5-10.

"The weekend provided more great experiences for us," said head coach CJ Weber. "We need to continue to learn and grow each match, because we have the potential to be so much greater than we are now. Having three new players in the lineup has offered some challenges this season, but these guys are like sponges and this team is getting ready to take off.

TROY 4, FGCU 2
The Eagles took early control of the match Saturday, with two doubles win. Lucas Vaz (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Fleming/Tulsa) and Ricky Ventura (Barcelona, Spain/University of Barcelona) defeated Daniel Bustamente and Hassan Ndayishimiye 6-3. Andres Alfonzo (Hollywood, Fla./Texas Christian University) and Ezequiel Cerrini (Sunny Isles Beach, Fla./Homeschool) then defeated Andre Baldo and Pablo Moreno 6-3 to secure the point.

Andres Alfonzo increased the Eagle lead to 2-0, with a win over Vaclav Slezak at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-4 but FGCU would drop decisions at No. 5 and No. 6 as Troy came back to tie the match.

Mustapha Belcora defeated Oliver Landert (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual School/Florida) 6-4, 6-3 from the No. 5 position and Javier Fernandez (Ibiza, Spain/IES CTEIB) fell 6-2, 6-3 to Andy Lau in the No. 6 spot to tie the match at 2-2.

The Trojans went on to win the match, with wins from No. 3 and No. 1 singles.

FULL RESULTS
Doubles
1) Vaz/Ventura (FGCU) def. Bustamente/Ndayishimiye (Troy) 6-3
2) A. Alfonzo/Cerrini (FGCU) def. Baldo/Moreno (Troy) 6-3
3) Landert/Fernandez (FGCU) def. Lau/Calum McKinlay (Troy) DNF
SINGLES
1) Bustamente (Troy) def. Ventura (FGCU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
2) A. Alfonzo (FGCU) def. Slezak (Troy) 6-1, 6-4
3) Giovani Samaha (Troy) def. Cerrini (FGCU) 6-2, 7-5
4) Moreno (Troy) def. Eduardo Alfonzo (FGCU) DNF
5) Belcora (Troy) def. Landert (FGCU) 6-4, 6-3
6) Lau (Troy) def. Fernandez (FGCU) 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,1), Singles (2, 5, 6, 3, 1)

FGCU 4, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 3
In a contrast from the match against Troy, FGCU lost the doubles point to Georgia Southern Sunday, but earned four singles win to claim a 4-3 win.

With losses at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, the Eagle trailed 1-0 as the match transitioned to singles play. The duo of Ventura and Vaz fell 6-1 to Christian Kerrigan and Rise Lanne from the top position. GSU then claimed the point as Landert and Fernandez dropped a 6-3 match to Eddie Landin and JC Alcala at No. 3 doubles.

Fernandez began the turnaround at No. 6 singles, defeating Andre Johnson 6-4, 6-2. Andres Alfonzo then put FGCU in front 2-1 from the No. 2 singles spot, defeating Alcala 6-4, 6-3.

The lead would be short-lived, as Eduardo Alfonzo (Hollywood, Fla./Barry University) lost to Ze Moya 7-5, 6-1 at No. 4 singles.

The drama continued, with momentum swinging in favor of the Green and Blue thanks to a Cerrini win at No. 3 singles. The freshman earned a 7-6, 6-4 win giving FGCU a 3-2 edge.

"I thought the team did an unbelievable job bouncing back from the doubles point," Cerrini said. "We were able to shift the momentum right from the start. I'm really happy with the way I played my match. It was a tough battle but in the end I was able to come up with some key points to close it out."

The hosts tied the overall match once again however with a win at No. 5 singles. Landert fell to Dani Casablancas 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, putting Ventura in the spotlight. The senior had lost his first set 2-6 before coming back to win the second set 7-5. Ventura gave FGCU the win with a 6-3 third set victory.

"I couldn't be happier after clinching the match today," Ventura said. "The team played with a lot of energy and confidence. I'm also very proud of the freshmen that brought two big wins which gave me so much energy in that third set."

FULL RESULTS
Doubles
1) Kerrigan/Lanne (GSU) def. Ventura/Vaz (FGCU) 6-1
2) A. Alfonzo/Cerrini (FGCU) vs. De Groof/Casablancas (GSU) DNF
3) Landin/Alcala (GSU) def. Landert/Fernandez (FGCU) 6-3
Singles
1) Ventura (FGCU) def. Lanne (GSU) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
2) A. Alfonzo (FGCU) def. Alcala (GSU) 6-4, 6-3
3) Cerrini (FGCU) def. Landin (GSU) 7-6 (4), 6-4
4) Moya (GSU) def. E. Alfonzo (FGCU) 7-5, 6-1
5) Casablancas (GSU) def. Landert (FGCU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
6) Fernandez (FGCU def. Johnson (GSU) 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: Doubles (1, 3), Singles (6, 2, 4, 3, 5, 1)

UP NEXT
The Eagles continue their road stand, travelling to Tampa for the USF Invite. FGCU faces Penn State and UNC-Wilmington during the weekend. Action begins Saturday against Penn State and wraps up Sunday against UNC-Wilmington.

FOLLOW ALONG
For complete coverage of FGCU men's tennis follow us on Twitter @FGCU_MTEN and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available at the end of each day of competition.
 
CJ WEBER
FGCU is led by CJ Weber who has coached 16 A-Sun All-Conference selections since joining the Green and Blue in 2011. In his fifth year, Weber has compiled a 57-40 (.588) overall record and a 20-11 (.645) record in A-Sun play. In 2014-15, Weber guided the Eagles to their first-ever Atlantic Sun Championship and first-ever Atlantic Sun Regular Season title after a program-best 17 wins. In his third season, Weber led Jordi Vives to a No. 35 national ranking, a nation-leading 14-match unbeaten streak and the round of 32 in the 2014 NCAA Tournament - the program's first appearance.
 
#FEEDFGCU
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.