FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women's tennis team (1-0) will welcome FIU for its first home dual of the season Sunday at the FGCU Tennis Complex. FGCU and FIU are slated to meet at 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
The Eagles traveled across Alligator Alley where they met FAU for their first dual of the season. Facing a 3-0 deficit, FGCU strung four singles victories capped off by Madison Gallegos (Denver, Colo./Colorado Connections Academy) to complete the improbable comeback victory.

Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) ignited the come from behind triumph in convincing fashion with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at the No. 2 singles spot. Soon after, Sofia Perez (Costa Rica/Florida Virtual School) manufactured another victory at No. 3 (6-4, 6-4) to bring the Green and Blue to within one, 3-2.

With only two matches remaining, Gallegos and Patricia Villar (Logrono, Spain/Bachillerato Santa Maria/Louisiana Monroe) faced the tall task of completing the victory and delivered. Villar fought off her opponent, winning in a second set tiebreak to even the match at three (6-3, 7-6) at No. 6. Meanwhile, Gallegos was forced into a third set and eliminated any doubt with a strong 6-3 third-set win and a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory overall.

In doubles play, the Eagle pairing of Laura Falceto Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza) and Villar claimed the lone victory at No. 3 in the final doubles match collecting a 6-3 win.
 
RECAPPING AN HISTORIC 2017 SEASON
FGCU's 2016-17 season was its most successful to date, claiming the ASUN regular season title for the first time in program history. Led by the ASUN Freshman of the Year Ornberg, FGCU went 6-0 in conference play and 15-5 overall. The Eagles' run to an NCAA Tournament fell short, however, as FGCU dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to UNF in the final.
 
PRESEASON FAVORITES
The reigning regular season champions, the FGCU women finished the poll with 44 points matching the reigning ASUN Tournament champions UNF. However, the Ospreys received four first-place votes while the Eagles received three. FGCU and UNF finished the regular season as the top two teams and met in the tournament final, with the Ospreys narrowly defeating the Eagles 4-3.

 Stetson (32 points) is expected to finish third according to the preseason poll, just ahead of Lipscomb (29). NJIT (25), Kennesaw State (14), and USC Upstate (8) round out the preseason poll.
 
SCOUTING FIU
The Panthers enters Sunday's dual with a 2-1 mark, after going 1-1 last weekend at the ITA 2018 Kickoff  in Lubbock, Tex. FIU fell to Wichita State, 2-4, before bouncing back the next day with a 4-2 triumph over St. Mary's (Calif.).

In singles play respectively, FIU is led at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots by #3 Andrea Lazaro and Maryna Veksler, who have a combined 4-2 record. However, in the final four spots of the lineup, the Panthers are 3-11 overall.

In doubles, Ulyana Grib and Veksler are 2-1 at No. 1 while the Panthers are a combined 3-3 at No. 2 and No. 3.

FGCU is 1-5 in its all-time series against cross-state foe FIU with its lone win coming during the 2012-13 campaign as the Eagles defeated the Panthers 4-3.

UP NEXT
The Eagles head to Macon, Ga., on Friday, Feb. 9 to take on Mercer at 1 p.m.
 
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 52-34 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.