TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A tough opening stretch for the FGCU men's tennis team continues as the Eagles head to the state capital to meet the #20 Seminoles and ETSU this weekend. FGCU (0-2) face #20 Florida State (6-0) Saturday at 10 a.m. before taking on ETSU (0-0) Sunday at 11 a.m.

TESTING AGAINST THE BEST
Of FGCU's first four matches, three come against NCAA Tournament-tested squads. The only team to not make the tournament, BYU, won 13 matches last season and finished third in the West Coast Conference.

The Eagle's next opponent, Florida State, advanced to the Second Round in 2017 before falling to TCU 4-1.

STARTING STRONG
After going winless in the fall, Felipe Escobar (Pereira, Colombia/Liceo Frances de Pereira/TCU) won three of his four matches during the opening weekend of the spring season en route to ASUN Player of the Week honors. Escobar won both doubles matches alongside Mateo Ruiz (Bucaramanga, Colombia/Oklahoma State) and also claimed a singles victory.

LAST TIME OUT
FGCU dropped its first two matches of the spring campaign to a pair of quality opponents. Escobar played a crucial role in FGCU success against UNC-Wilmington, setting the Green and Blue claiming the doubles point while also putting FGCU in front 3-1. The Eagles were unable to close out the match, however, as the Seahawks stormed back to win 4-3.

Against BYU, Oliver Landert (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual School/Florida) claimed the lone singles win as FGCU fell 6-1 to the Cougars.

SCOUTING THE SEMINOLES
Florida State went to Honolulu to begin the spring season and claimed three victories, including a 6-1 win over #24 Texas Tech. Since then, the Seminoles have continued to dominate with three-straight 4-0 wins. Aziz Douglas and #22 Guy Iradukunda have split duties at the top-spot, combining for a 6-0 record. FSU's only loss came at the No. 4 spot from Jose Gracia who stands 8-6 overall this season and 3-1 in dual play.

In doubles, the Seminoles look to #8 Gracias and Lucas Poullain at the top spot to lead the way. The duo is currently 7-3 this season and 3-1 in the spring.

FGCU has never defeated Florida State, entering the weekend 0-5 all-time against the Seminoles.

SCOUTING THE BUCCANEERS
ETSU begins the spring with a pair of matches Saturday against both Florida A&M and FSU before taking on FGCU Sunday. Last season, East Tennessee went 16-8 and claimed its 11th-straight Southern Conference tournament title. Robert Herrera will have to fill the shoes left by David Biosca, who won 17 matches at No. 1 singles last season. Herrera won 17 himself, though split between No. 2 and No. 3 singles. David Gonzalez also returns after winning 13 dual matches last season.

ETSU will have to replace every doubles pairing from last season as well. No current members were paired together last season.

A former ASUN member, FGCU and ETSU have a long history but FGCU has never defeated ETSU. The Eagles are 0-8 all-time against their former conference rivals.

UP NEXT
FGCU has a week off before its home debut Feb. 3 against Georgia Southern. 

CJ WEBER
FGCU is led by CJ Weber who has coached 26 ASUN All-Conference selections since joining the Green and Blue in 2011. In his sixth year, Weber has compiled a 74-58 (.600) overall record and a 29-14 (.694) record in ASUN play. In 2014-15, Weber guided the Eagles to their first-ever ASUN Championship and first-ever ASUN 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.