FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women's tennis team (3-5) nearly came out on top in a thrilling finals doubles tiebreaker to clinch the point but ultimately would fall 5-2 to Michigan State (9-3) Friday afternoon at the FGCU Tennis Complex.

"Michigan State is a solid team," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "They competed better today and we didn't commit to the plan and it showed in our ownership of the process in singles. We will grow a lot from this experience."

FGCU got the doubles rolling clinching on court one. The tandem of Julia Ascúa (Santa Fe, Argentina/Domingo G. Silva) and Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) handed Davina Nguyen and Emily Metcalf their first doubles loss of the year. Both Spartans were previously 8-0. Shortly after, Michigan State came out on top 7-5 on court three, which left the decisive battle on court two. On that court, Julianna Curtis (West Des Moines, Iowa/Allendale Academy) and Laura Falceto Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza) battled into a grueling tiebreaker, in which the Spartans triumphed in an 11-9 decision, giving the visitors the doubles point.

In singles, MSU kept its momentum from doubles play going, claiming four matches in straight sets, with the clinching match coming on court three. At No.1 and No. 2, respectively, Ornberg and Ascúa claimed the Eagles' lone wins as Ascúa rallied to defeat Habiba Shaker 10-2 in a third-set tiebreaker and Ornberg was the last court to wrap up, winning in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

With the win, Ornberg moves to 6-2 in dual play, going 3-0 in the No. 1 spot while Ascúa picks up her third dual victory of the year. She now moves to 2-1 at the No. 2 spot.

COMPLETE RESULTS
DOUBLES RESULTS
1. Julia Ascúa /Maja Ornberg (FGCU) def. Davina Nguyen/Emily Metcalf (MSU) 6-3
2. Habiba Shaker/Sara Kuuttila (MSU) def. Laura Falceto Font/Julianna Curtis (FGCU) 7-6 (11-9)
3. Ava Thielman/Lexi Baylis (MSU) def. Bridget Forster/Madison Gallegos (FGCU) 7-5

SINGLES RESULTS
1. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) def. Aslina Chua (MSU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Julia Ascúa (FGCU) def. Habiba Shaker (MSU) 3-6, 7-6, 10-2
3. Sara Kuuttila (MSU) def. Madison Gallegos (FGCU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Davina Nguyen (MSU) def. Laura Falceto Font (FGCU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Emily Metcalf (MSU) def. Patricia Villar (FGCU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Samantha Memije (MSU) def. Bridget Forster (FGCU) 6-2, 6-3
 
UP NEXT
FGCU will prepare for two matches, first facing Minnesota on Monday, Mar. 12 at 5 p.m. then return back to the courts Tuesday, Mar. 13 against Notre Dame, also at 5 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 54-39 overall record (.600) and 21-5 conference record (.808) in her four years at FGCU.