FORT MYERS, Fla. – Despite capturing the doubles point early on, the FGCU women's tennis team (4-6) fell in its last home non-conference match of the spring season 6-1 to Notre Dame (9-3) Tuesday evening at the FGCU Tennis Complex.

"Notre Dame is a very sold team," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "We will continue to work on the opportunity moments in singles. We are growing stronger from each of these matches. I am grateful for the commitment that this team shows to growth and getting better."

After falling on court one in doubles, the Eagles claimed victories on courts two and three to go up 1-0 on the visitors. Madison Gallegos (Denver, Colo./Colorado Connections Academy)  and Patricia Villar (Logrono, Spain/Bachillerato Santa Maria/Louisiana Monroe) picked up a tough 7-5 battle and seconds later, Julianna Curtis (West Des Moines, Iowa/Allendale Academy) and Laura Falceto Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza) clinched on court two also notching a 7-5 triumph.

With both wins, the tandem of Gallegos and Villar picked up their first dual win of the season, while Curtis and Font continue to roll, now moving to 4-1 in doubles competition.

Transitioning into singles, FGCU had difficulty shaking off Notre Dame's fast start. The Irish's first win came on court six to tie the match then soon after won in straight sets on court three for the lead. From there, two matches later, the visitors clinched on court five 6-4, 6-0.

Not going away just yet, FGCU battled to the end, as Font and Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) would ultimately fall 10-5, and 10-6, respectively, in third-set tiebreakers.

DOUBLES RESULTS
1. Brooke Broda/Allison Miller (ND) def. Maja Ornberg/Julia Ascúa (FGCU) 6-4
2. Laura Falceto Font/Julianna Curtis (FGCU) def. Cameron Corse/Zoe Spence (ND) 7-5
3. Madison Gallegos/Patricia Villar (FGCU) def. Rachel Chong/Bess Waldram (ND) 7-5

SINGLES RESULTS
1. Brooke Broda (ND) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 2-6, 6-4, 10-6
2. Allison Miller (ND) def. Julia Ascúa (FGCU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Cameron Corse (ND) def. Madison Gallegos (FGCU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Zoe Spence (ND) def. Laura Falceto Font (FGCU) 4-6, 6-4, 10-5
5. Rachel Chong (ND) def. Patricia Villar (FGCU) 6-4, 6-0
6. Ally Bojczuk (ND) def. Sofia Perez (FGCU) 6-1, 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,3,2,5,4,1)

UP NEXT
FGCU is off until Saturday, Mar. 24 when the squad hits the road and faces USF in Tampa, Fla., 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 55-40 overall record (.600) and 21-5 conference record (.808) in her four years at FGCU.