FORT MYERS, Fla. – Wrapping up its five-match homestand, the FGCU women's tennis team (8-4) recorded its third shutout of the season by defeating George Washington (7-7, 1-2 A-10), 7-0, Saturday morning at the FGCU Tennis Complex.
The Eagles, who responded from its first home loss since Mar. 14, 2016 with today's win, claimed a hard-fought doubles point in the decisive third match before using the momentum and winning all six singles matched in straight sets.
"The ladies showed a lot of focus today," said FGCU head coach
Courtney Vernon. "I'm pleased with the strength they are showing by their mentality on the court. They are trusting that they know the plan and can execute it. We are looking forward to starting conference play next week."
With doubles tied at one match apiece, FGCU's freshman duo of
Sara Kelly (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual School) and
Bridget Forster (Boca Raton, Fla./Florida Virtual School) came back from a 5-4 deficit in the decisive third match to claim the point for the Green and Blue with a 7-5 victory against George Washington's Allison Hansen and Victoria Kogan.
On court two,
Maja Ornberg (Kil Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) and
Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago) put forth a valiant comeback effort but ultimately came up short against Marie-Louise decamps and Taylor Nederlander, 6-4.
However, after falling in a 3-0 hole, FGCU's top duo of
Julia Ascúa (Santa Fe, Argentina/Domingo G. Silva) and
Julianna Curtis (Tampa, Fla./Allendale Academy) won six of the next seven points in their match against Maria Siopacha and Melis Bayraktaroglu to even things up with the Colonials. For Ascúa and Curtis, it was their 16th doubles win in their last 20 dual matches dating back to last season.
The Green and Blue then made quick work of the visiting Colonials in singles play. Curtis started things off with a 6-2, 6-1 win against Grubac in #4 singles before Forster got the Eagles to within a point of claiming the match with a 6-0, 6-4 victory against Kamilia Beisenova on court six.
Minutes later, Stampfli claimed the match for FGCU and improved to 7-4 on the season in the #2 position as she cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win against George Washington's Bayraktaroglu. It was the third time this spring Stampfli clinched the match for the Green and Blue.
With the match already decided, FGCU kept its foot on the pedal and went on to win each of the remaining three matches. Ornberg blanker counterpart in #1 singles, while Kelly won her third straight match by downing Nederlander 6-3, 6-2 in the #5 position.
To cap off the match, Ascúa cruised to a 6-3 win in the first set before ultimately winning the match by a 7-5 margin in the second frame.
RESULTS VS. GWU
Doubles
#1: Ascúa/Curtis (FGCU) def. Siopacha/Bayraktaroglu (GWU): 6-4
#2: Decamps/Nederlander (GWU) def. Ornberg/Stampfli (FGCU): 6-4
#3: Forster/Kelly (FGCU) def. Hansen/Kogan (GWU): 7-5
Singles
#1: Ornberg (FGCU) def. Siopacha (GWU): 6-0, 6-0
#2: Stampfli (FGCU) def. Bayraktaroglu (GWU): 6-3, 6-2
#3: Ascúa (FGCU) def. Decamps (GWU): 6-3, 7-5
#4: Curtis (FGCU) def. Grubac (GWU): 6-2, 6-1
#5: Kelly (FGCU) def. Nederlander (GWU): 6-3, 6-2
#6: Forster (FGCU) def. Beisenova (GWU): 6-0, 6-4
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3); Singles (4, 6, 2, 1, 5, 3)
UP NEXT
FGCU begins conference play with three straight road matches, starting with a dual match at Stetson (2-10) Thursday, Mar. 23 at 2 p.m. The Eagles have advanced to two straight ASUN Championship Finals and are 15-5 in conference play in Vernon's three seasons with the program.
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 44-33 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.
