FORT MYERS, Fla. – In need of a victory the FGCU men's tennis team secured a 5-2 win over Lipscomb Saturday night, capped by a win over a top 150 player in the country. FGCU improved to 7-11 and 3-3 in ASUN play while the Bisons fell to 5-10 and 1-4 in ASUN play.

"Today was a step in the right direction with some things we've been talking about," said head coach CJ Weber. "I'm especially happy for our doubles win. Mateo and Javi did a great job of closing out the match under pressure."

The pressure was on the Eagles after dropping Thursday's match and the Green and Blue responded with a doubles victory thanks to Mateo Ruiz (Bucaramanga, Colombia/Oklahoma State) and Javier Fernandez (Ibiza, Spain/IES CTEIB) securing a 7-6 win over Thais Minet and Jorge Ortegon at No. 3 doubles.

Lipscomb however wouldn't go down without a fight. Following a Fernandez win at No. 5, the Bisons secured matches at No. 2 and No. 3 to tie the match at 2-2.

Andres Alfonzo (Hollywood, Fla./Florida Virtual School/Texas Christian University) put FGCU in front 3-2 win a crucial 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory at No. 4, setting up a pivotal victory for Felipe Ramirez (Armenia, Colombia/Florida Virtual School). After taking his first set in a tiebreaker, Ramirez won 9-7 in a tiebreaker over #118 Rob Mitchell, the only undefeated No.1  singles player in the ASUN to secure the win for FGCU.

Austin Bates (Marietta, Ga./Pope HS) was the last player remaining on the courts and the junior secured a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 victory to wrap up the match with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 win at No. 6.  

"What an amazing clinch for Felipe today," added Weber. "He is playing very good tennis in his first semester in college. He's so much fun to watch and I can't wait to watch him play again."

At No. 1 doubles, Oliver Landert (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual School/Florida) and Ramirez fell 6-3 to Alejandro Manzaneras and Victor Chaw while the No. 2 pairing of Alfonzo and Ezequiel Cerrini (Sunny Isles Beach, Fla./Homeschool) won 6-2 at No. 2.

UP NEXT
FGCU has one final match, at home against Memphis April 15 at 6 p.m. before the Eagles prepare for the ASUN Tournament.

FULL RESULTS
DOUBLES
1) Manzanares/Chaw (LIP) def. Landert/Ramirez (FGCU) 6-3
2) Alfonzo/Cerrini (FGCU) def. Mitchell/Cardenas (LIP) 6-2
3) Ruiz/Fernandez (FGCU) def. Minet/Ortegon (LIP) 7-6
SINGLES
1) Ramirez (FGCU) def. #118 Mitchell (LIP) 7-6, 7-6
2) Manzanares (LIP) def. Ruiz (FGCU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
3) Chaw (LIP) def. Cerrini (FGCU) 7-5, 6-2
4) Alfonzo (FGCU) def. Cardenas (LIP) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
5) Fernadez (FGCU) def. Minet (LIP) 6-2, 6-1
6) Bates (FGCU) def. Ortegon (LIP) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3), Singles (5, 3, 2, 4, 1, 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 71-54 (.600) overall record and a 29-14 (.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
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.
 
#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.