Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In a contest between two of the favorites for the ASUN regular season title, the FGCU men's tennis team dropped a tough road match to rivals UNF Friday night, 5-2. The Eagles (3-6, 0-1 ASUN), started strong but a heartbreaking doubles result and a fast start from the Ospreys (6-6, 1-0) in singles was too much to overcome.

"UNF was the better team today," said head coach CJ Weber. "They got on top of us heavy at some positions and it made it really difficult for us. I'm looking forward to this spring break so we can reflect on what we need to do the rest of the season."

The doubles pairing of Mateo Ruiz (Bucaramanga, Colombia/Oklahoma State) and Ezequiel Cerrini (Sunny Isles Beach, Fla./Homeschool) at No. 3 got FGCU off to a fast start with a 6-1 win over Albert De Meo and Nilo Duarte.

However, UNF pulled even with a doubles win of its own at No. 1 as Jefta Kecic and Lasse Mucheites defeated Oliver Landert (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual School/Florida) and Felipe Ramirez (Armenia, Colombia/Florida Virtual School) 6-3. In the decisive match at No. 2, Austin Bates (Marietta, Ga./Pope HS) and Felipe Escobar (Pereira, Colombia/Liceo Frances de Pereira/TCU) fell in a tiebreak, 7-6 to Till Von Winning and Sahil Deshmukh.

The emotional doubles contest led to a quick start from the Ospreys in singles. Victories at No. 1 and 2 put FGCU behind 3-0 but still with a chance to come back.

FGCU had either won or forced a tiebreak in the first set including a dominant 6-1 performance from Landert at No. 4. Landert went on to win 6-1, 7-5 in his match to give the Eagles their first point in the match.

On the remaining courts, Escobar came back against Deshmukh in the opening set but dropped the tiebreaker. Meanwhile, Javier Fernandez (Ibiza, Spain/IES CTEIB) had gained an early advantage against Joe Ellis with a 6-3 first set and Bates edged Duarte 6-4 at No. 6.

Both Fernandez and Bates were forced to third sets before Landert had claimed his victory and a few moments later, Escobar dropped his second set 6-3.

Ruiz secured FGCU's second point with a 10-6 victory in the third set while Bates fell 6-3 in his third set.

UP NEXT
FGCU returns home to face William & Mary March 8.

FULL RESULTS
Doubles
1) Jefta Kecic/Lasse Muscheites (UNF) def. Felipe Ramirez/Oliver Landert (FGCU) 6-3
2) Till Von Winning/Sahil Deshmukh (UNF) def. Austin Bates/Felipe Escobar (FGCU) 7-6
3) Mateo Ruiz/Ezequiel Cerrini (FGCU) def. Albert De Meo/Nilo Duarte (UNF) 6-1
Singles
1) Jefta Kecic (UNF) def. Felipe Ramirez (FGCU) 6-1, 6-1
2) Lasse Muscheites (UNF) def. Ezequiel Cerrini (FGCU) 6-1, 6-3
3) Sahil Deshmukh (UNF) def. Felipe Escobar (FGCU) 7-6, 6-3
4) Oliver Landert (FGCU) def. Till Von Winning (UNF) 6-1, 7-5
5) Javier Fernandez (FGCU) def. Joe Ellis (UNF) 6-3, 3-6, 10-6
6) Nilo Duarte (UNF) def. Austin Bates (FGCU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1,2), Singles (1,2,4,3,5,6)

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 76-62 (.552) overall record and a 29-15 (.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.
 
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