LAKE NONA, Fla. – Off to its best start in Division I program history, the FGCU women's tennis team (4-1) takes to the road for the second time this spring and will square off with in-state foe UCF (7-1) Friday at 1 p.m. at the brand new USTA National Campus located in Lake Nona, Fla.
The Eagles, who have won three straight matches since dropping a tough road test at FSU, are off to a 4-1 start for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign.
Both
live stats and a
live stream of the match will be available.
MATCH HISTORY
After dropping the first seven meetings against UCF, the Green and Blue took down the Knights for the first time in program history a season ago. FGCU got out to an early lead by claiming the doubles point, but subsequently dropped the first three singles matches to fall in a 3-1 deficit. However, behind a come-from-behind, three-set victory from
Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) in #1 singles, FGCU completed its dramatic comeback and defeated UCF, 4-3.
SCOUTING UCF
The Knights have posted a 7-1 record to start the season and are riding a five-match win streak. After dropping its lone match to Iowa Jan. 15, UCF has defeated Stetson, Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, Georgia Southern and UNF. All five wins have been my either a 5-2 or 7-0 margin.
Natalie Serrano and Monica Matias lead the way for the Knights in singles action as they have occupied the #1 and #2 positions, respectively, in all eight dual matches. Serrano is off to a 6-2 start, while Matias is tied for the team lead with a 7-1 record and has won five straight.
In doubles action, Matias has paired with Courtney Cesarini in the top spot and posted a 7-1 record. Under them, Serrano and Emilia Granstrom have occupied the #2 position and have yet to drop a dual match. As a team, the Knights have only dropped three doubles matches.
LAST TIME OUT
After dropping the doubles point against FAU, the Green and Blue seized the early momentum from the Owls and went on to win five of six singles matches to secure the win. Two of the Eagles' singles wins came in straight sets, while two more were won following an opening-set loss. The win marked FGCU's fourth straight against FAU and its fifth in the last six meetings.
With the match even at 2-2, freshman
Sophia Perez (Costa Rica/Florida Virtual School) put the Green and Blue within a point of sealing the match as she responded from a first-set loss to defeat Rudenko 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) then followed suit with a three-set win of her own to clinch the match. The Sweden native dropped a hard-fought opening set, 5-7, before cruising to a pair of 6-1 wins in the second and decisive third set.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
In three weeks of competition this spring, FGCU has already set a single-season record with three ASUN Women's Tennis Player of the Week awards. Stampfli was the first to earn the recognition after securing the matching-clinching win against USF to start the dual season, marking the second time in her career she received the weekly award. Two weeks later,
Laura Falceto Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza) took home the award for the first time in her career after clinching FGCU's comeback against Southern Miss. Just this week, Ornberg earned the honor after going 4-0 in singles and doubles action in a pair of wins for the Eagles and securing FGCU's fourth straight win against FAU.
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 ASUN Freshman of the Year and 2016 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Vernon has led the Green and Blue to a 40-30 overall record (.571) 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.
