FORT MYERS, Fla. – Doubles continued to shine on Day Two of the FGCU Spring Invite for the women's tennis team. FGCU earned two doubles wins this morning over the Kansas Jayhawks while Julia Ascúa claimed the lone singles win against #15 South Carolina.

"The girls competed very well today against Kansas in doubles," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "They played with good intent. South Carolina is a very good team and we were definitely pressed in singles play but once again, there was some very good progress. We are excited to have the opportunity to play again tomorrow."

Ascúa (Santa Fe, Argentina/Domingo G. Silva) and Julianna Curtis (West Des Moines, Iowa/Allendale Academy) earned the day's first win for the Green and Blue, securing a 6-2 decision over KU's Despoina Vogasari and Tatiana Nikolaeva. Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) and Madison Gallegos (Denver, Colo./Colorado Connections Academy) then claimed a 6-4 victory over Nina Khmelnitchaia and Carla Pons Martorell just minutes after Sofia Perez (Costa Rica/Florida Virtual School) and Bridget Forster (Boca Raton, Fla./Florida Virtual School) fell 6-2 to Janet Koch and Maria Toran Ribes.

As the chilly morning turned into a sunny early afternoon, Ascúa's 6-3, 6-3 win over South Carolina's Silvia Chinellato proved to be the lone victory over the #15 Gamecocks.

Two Eagles, Forster and Gallegos, forced a set into a tiebreak but neither could prevail. Forster dropped a 1-6, 6-7 match to Paige Cline while Gallegos lost to Rachel Rohrabacher 0-6, 6-7.

Patricia Villar (Logrono, Spain/Bachillerato Santa Maria/Louisiana Monroe) nearly won her first set only for Nikolina Jovic to pull away. Villar fell 5-7, 3-6. Ornberg dropped a 4-6, 1-6 decision to Mia Horvit and Perez, who faced #105 Megan Davies, lost 3-6, 3-6.

Sofia Blanno (Johns Creek, Ga./K12 International Academy/Auburn), the lone Eagle to match with a Jayhawk in singles, fell 1-6, 2-6.

UP NEXT
FGCU completes its home invite tomorrow at 9 a.m. as the Eagles take on Rice in singles play.

FGCU COMPLETE RESULTS

Doubles Results
Julia Ascúa/Julianna Curtis (FGCU) def. Despoina Vogasari/Tatiana Nikolaeva (KU) 6-2
Janet Koch/Maria Toran Ribes (KU) def. Sofia Perez/Bridget Forster (FGCU) 6-3
Maja Ornberg/Madison Gallegos (FGCU) def. Nina Khmelnitchaia/Carla Pons Martorell (KU) 6-4
Singles Results
Mia Horvit (SCAR) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 6-4, 6-1
Julia Ascúa (FGCU) def. Silvia Chinellato (SCAR) 6-3, 6-3
#105 Megan Davies (SCAR) def. Sofia Perez (FGCU) 6-3, 6-3
Paige Cline (SCAR) def. Bridget Forster (FGCU) 6-1, 7-6
Rachel Rohrabacher (SCAR) def. Madison Gallegos (FGCU) 6-0, 7-6
Nikolina Jovic (SCAR) def. Patricia Villar (FGCU) 7-5, 6-3
Kennedy Wicker (SCAR) def. Laura Falceto Font (FGCU) 8-0 – match played as one pro-set
Janet Koch (KU) def. Sofia Blanno (FGCU) 6-1, 6-2

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 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.