CORAL GABLES, Fla. – In a tense matchup featuring in-state rivals, the FGCU men's tennis team nearly completed an incredible comeback Saturday afternoon against Miami, only to fall short 4-3.The Eagles (3-4) trailed 3-0 as the match but came back to tie the match at 3-3. Miami (4-3) sealed the win in the final match, however.

"Today was a good fight," said head coach CJ Weber. "This team is starting to learn some important things to set up some future success for us. We've had a lot of challenges so far this season, so we just need to continue to focus on what we can control, and good things will come."

Shorthanded and trailing 3-0, Mateo Ruiz (Bucaramanga, Colombia/Oklahoma State) sparked the Eagles to what was almost a memorable night against the Hurricanes. Ruiz defeated Kevin Bondar 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 to keep the match alive. Shortly after, Javier Fernandez (Ibiza, Spain/IES CTEIB) rebounded from a first set loss to defeat Niclas Genovese 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 to make it 3-2.

Riding a new-found wave of confidence, Felipe Ramirez (Armenia, Colombia/Florida Virtual School) tied the match after suffering a second set loss. After coming out with a 6-3 victory over Max Andrews, the newcomer dropped his second set 3-6 only to win his third set 6-3 to bring the Eagles level.

After playing his first set to a tiebreaker, Sam Chaffin (Tampa, Fla./Wharton HS) fought back at No. 6 to take a 5-4 lead in his second set. Nile Clark however would win the next three games to end the comeback and give Miami the 4-3 win.

Oliver Landert (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual School/Florida) led No. 70 Piotr Lomacki 6-3 but suffered a 6-1 loss in the second set before retiring in the third due to injury. Ezequiel Cerrini (Sunny Isles Beach, Fla./Homeschool) suffered a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Christian Langmo at No. 2 to round out the singles results.

Miami secured the doubles point with wins at No. 3 and No. 2. Dane Dunlap and Langmo defeated Pedro Carle (Daireuax, Argentina/Instituto Vocacional Argentino/College of the Desert) and Cerrini 6-2 while Ruiz and Fernandez lost to Clark and Lomacki 7-6.

UP NEXT
FGCU returns home for a five-match homestand before conference play begins. The stretch begins with a Thursday (March 9) match opposite Xavier followed by a Friday (March 10) tussle with ETSU.

FULL RESULTS
Doubles
1) Landert/Ramirez (FGCU) vs. Andrews/Bondar (Miami)
2) Clark/Lomacki (Miami) def. Fernandez/Ruiz (FGCU) 7-6
3) Dunlap/Langmo (Miami) def. Carle/Cerrini (FGCU) 6-2

Singles
1) Lomacki (Miami) def. Landert (FGCU) 3-6, 6-1, 3-0 (ret.)
2) Langmo (Miami) def. Cerrini (FGCU) 6-2, 6-4
3) Ramirez (FGCU) def. Andrews (Miami) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
4) Ruiz (FGCU) def. Bondar (Miami) 6-3, 6-2
5) Fernandez (FGCU) def. Genovese (Miami) 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
6) Clark (Miami) def. Chaffin (FGCU) 7-6, 7-5
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3), Singles (2, 1, 4, 5, 3, 6)

CJ WEBER
FGCU is led by CJ Weber who has coached 23 ASUN All-Conference selections since joining the Green and Blue in 2011. In his fifth year, Weber has compiled a 66-48 (.600) overall record and a 26-11 (.694) record in ASUN 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. The Eagles completed consecutive perfect ASUN seasons in 2016 and back-to-back conference titles as well as a second-straight Coach of the Year honor for Weber.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
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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.