FORT MYERS, Fla. – A fantastic doubles performance from Sofia Perez and Bridget Forster to begin the day highlighted the first day of the spring season for the FGCU women's tennis team. The pairing defeated the #58 doubles team in the country as the Eagles faced competition from Rice, Ole Miss, and Denver on Day One of the FGCU Spring Invite. The Eagles were paired with Ole Miss and Rice in doubles while the bulk of the FGCU roster faced Denver in singles to conclude the day.

"Today was a great day to learn," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "We were reminded in every match how the messages we are taking with us will keep up us committed to growth and sticking to the plan. This is a hard-working, determined group and we are excited to play again tomorrow."

Perez (Costa Rica/Florida Virtual School) and Forster (Boca Raton, Fla./Florida Virtual School), who also won their respective singles matches later in the day, began the spring season on a high note. The pairing defeated Ole Miss' tandem of Anna Vrbenska and Tea Jandric who entered the season as the #58 duo in the country and also the Rebels' third national-ranked pairing. A hard-fought match saw Perez and Forster come away with a well-deserved 6-4 victory.

In addition to their doubles win, Perez defeated Denver's Arisha Ladhani 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 while Forster defeated the Pioneers Gracia Mboko 6-1, 6-1.

FGCU's doubles teams were put to the test immediately, as Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) and Madison Gallegos (Denver, Colo./Colorado Connections Academy) tested #13 Arianna Hartono and Alexa Bortles of Ole Miss. The Eagles dropped a 6-2 decision in that match, while Patricia Villar (Logrono, Spain/Bachillerato Santa Maria/Louisiana Monroe) and Laura Falceto Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza) fell 6-3 to #22 Natalie Suk and Sabrina Machalova also of Ole Miss.

In the final match against the Rebels, Julianna Curtis (West Des Moines, Iowa/Allendale Academy) and Sofia Blanno (Johns Creek, Ga./K12 International Academy/Auburn) dropped a tough 7-5 contest to Tereza Janatova and Allie Sanford.

Against the Owls of Rice, FGCU fell in all three contests.

When play turned to singles, Ornberg was matched with #65 Julia O'Loughlin of Denver. Ornberg nearly got the better of O'Loughlin in the first set but dropped a difficult tiebreaker before being edged in the second set, 7-6, 6-4.

Villar meanwhile dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision to Bianca Mok and Gallegos lost 6-3, 7-6 to Hada Chang.

Curtis, who claimed the first set 6-2, was unable to carry the momentum into the second or third set, falling 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. Blanno was the final Eagle in action today, facing Amber Policare of Kansas. Policare claimed the match 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

FGCU returns to action tomorrow at 9 a.m. as the doubles team face Kansas while the Eagles compete individually against South Carolina beginning at 10 a.m.

COMPLETE FGCU RESULTS
Doubles Results
#13 Arianna Hartono/Alexa Bortles (Ole Miss) def. Maja Ornberg/Madison Gallegos (FGCU) 6-2
#22 Natalie Suk/Sabrina Machalova (Ole Miss) def. Patricia Villar/Laura Falceto Font (FGCU) 6-3
Sofia Perez/Bridget Forster (FGCU) def. #58 Anna Vrbenska/Tea Jandric (Ole Miss) 6-4
Tereza Janatova/Allie Sanford (Ole Miss) def. Sofia Blanno/Julianna Curtis (FGCU) 7-5
Wendy Zhang/Priya Niezgoda (Rice) def. Maja Ornberg/Madison Gallegos (FGCU) 6-3
Fernanda Astete/Michaela Haet (Rice) def. Laura Falceto Font/Patricia Villar (FGCU) 6-3
Anna Bowtell/Sofie Moenster (Rice) def. Sofia Perez/Bridget Forster (FGCU) 6-4

Singes Results
#65 Julia O'Loughlin (DU) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 7-6, 6-4
Bianca Mok (DU) def. Patricia Villar (FGCU) 6-3, 6-3
Sofia Perez (FGCU) def. Arisha Ladhani (DU) 4-6, 7-6, 6-3
Bridget Forster (FGCU) def. Gracia Mboko (DU) 6-1, 6-1
Hada Chang (DU) def. Madison Gallegos (FGCU) 6-3, 7-6
Camille Andersen (DU) def. Julianna Curtis (FGCU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
Amber Policare (KU) def. Sofia Blanno (FGCU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2

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HEAD COACH COURTNEY VERNON
FGCU's women's tennis team is led by two-time ASUN Coach of the Year Courtney Vernon, whose fourth season under the helm saw the Eagles claim their first ASUN Championship in program history. She has mentored her student-athletes into earning 43 ASUN All-Conference and All-Academic honors, including the 2014, 2016 and 2017 ASUN Freshman of the Year as well as the 2016 and 2017 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Vernon has led the Green and Blue to a 51-34 overall record (.600) and 21-5 conference record (.808) in her four 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.