FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women's tennis team (3-1) lead from start to finish and recorded its first 7-0 shutout win of the season against Florida A&M (0-5) Friday afternoon at the FGCU Tennis Complex.

The Eagles' 3-1 start to the season is its best since also winning three of its first four matches to start the 2012-13 campaign. Additionally, the shutout win is the first since also blanking USC Upstate at the end of last season, when FGCU totaled five 7-0 victories.

"The girls did a good job of taking care of business today," said FGCU head coach Courtney Vernon. "They were focused and played with good intent. We're looking forward to Sunday when we get to compete again."

Like it has in three of four matches this spring, FGCU got off to an early lead in doubles action thanks to dominant performances on all three courts and never looked back.

The Eagles' top tandem of Julia Ascúa (Santa Fe, Argentina/Domingo G. Silva) and Julianna Curtis (Tampa, Fla./Allendale Academy) made quick work of their Rattler counterparts as they claimed a 6-0 win against Dominique Henry and Olivia Rolle on court one, marking their 12th straight win in dual matches dating back to last season. Moments later, Laura Falceto Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza) and Sara Kelly (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual School) followed suit by blanking Karen Machisa and Elizabeth Clayton to secure the doubles point on court three.

With the point already decided, Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) and Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago/St. Joseph's Convent) were in one-point match with Arrice Robinson and Sophia Osabouhien but pulled away to win the final three points and take the match, 6-2.

FGCU remained as dominant in singles play by winning all six matches in straight sets. Ten of FGCU's 12 sets won were by four or more points.

Kelly kicked off singles competition with her first dual win as a member of the Green and Blue as she defeated Osabouhien in #5 singles without surrendering a single point. From there, the wins came in rapid succession as Falceto Font, the reigning ASUN Player of the Week, took down Clayton in #4 singles while only giving up one point, and Stampfli sealed the match for the second time this season by defeating Robinson in back-to-back sets of 6-1 in the #2 position. For Falceto Font, it was her 13th straight dual-match win dating back to the end of the 2016 spring season.

With the match already decided, Ornberg handed Rolle a 6-2, 6-0 defeat on court one. Making her dual-match debut with the Green and Blue, Sophia Perez (Costa Rica/Florida Virtual School) joined Kelly in earning her first win with the team as she defeated Karen Machisa by a final score of 6-3, 6-2 on court six. Finally, to cap off the match, Ascúa was tested by FAMU's Henry early, but pulled away late to win 6-4, 6-2 in #3 singles.

RESULTS VS. FAMU
Doubles
#1: Ascúa/Curtis (FGCU) def. Henry/Rolle (FAMU): 6-0
#2: Ornberg/Stampfli (FGCU) def. Robinson/Osabouhien (FAMU): 6-2
#3: Falceto Font/Kelly (FGCU) def. Machisa/Clayton (FAMU): 6-0
 
Singles
#1: Ornberg (FGCU) def. Rolle (FAMU): 6-2, 6-0
#2: Stampfli (FGCU) def. Robinson (FAMU): 6-1, 6-1
#3: Ascúa (FGCU) def. Henry (FAMU): 6-4, 6-2
#4: Falceto Font (FGCU) def. Clayton (FAMU): 6-1, 6-0
#5: Kelly (FGCU) def. Osabouhien (FAMU): 6-0, 6-0
#6: Perez (FGCU) def. Machisa (FAMU): 6-3, 6-2

Order of Finish: Doubles (1, 3, 2); Singles (5, 4, 2, 1, 6, 3)

UP NEXT
FGCU faces a quick turnaround and hosts cross-state rival FAU at the FGCU Tennis Complex Sunday at 10 a.m. The Eagles and Owls hold a long-standing rivalry that dates back to the 2001-02 season. Despite FAU holding a 5-4 all-time advantage, FGCU has won four of the last five meetings, including three straight.

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 reining ASUN Co-Coach of the Year Courtney Vernon, whose third season under the helm saw the Eagles finish in a program-best second place in the regular season conference standings and advance to their second consecutive Atlantic Sun Championship Final. She has mentored her student-athletes into earning a total of 29 ASUN All-Conference honors, including the 2014 and 2016 A-Sun Freshman of the Year and 2016 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Vernon has led the Green and Blue to a 39-30 overall record (.565) and 15-5 conference record (.750) in her three 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.