BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – In the opening day of the FGCU FineMark Collegiate Open, the FGCU men's tennis team won five of the 11 matches it played against Minnesota.

"Today was a great start to the event," head coach CJ Weber said. "Bonita Bay does everything world-class and it was a lot of fun to put on a show for them. We won some great matches against a very good Minnesota team. I just want to keep focusing on our goals each day and get a little bit better tomorrow, and then continue to improve the next day."

In doubles play, the team of senior Marcelo Tebet and sophomore Pedro Maciel (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Goliath Academy) earned a shutout, 6-0 victory over Minnesota's Troost and Ogilvy. Senior Felipe Ramirez and freshman Juan Lopez (Gachancipa, Colombia/Colegio Virtual Siglo XXI) also earned a win in doubles play, downing Zarkovic and Martin 7-5.

Ramirez (Armenia, Colombia/Florida Virtual School) continued his winning performance in singles play, handing Vlad Lobak a straight-set, 6-3, 6-3 loss. Tebet (Londrina, Brazil/Colegia Anglo Americano) also picked up his second triumph of the day, defeating Jackson Alleu 6-2, 6-4. Sophomore Carter Bradford (Wesley Chapel, Fla./George Mason) added the team's third and final individual victory in singles play, defeating Golden Gopher Kaleb Dobbs in straight sets (6-3, 6-1).

Freshman Guglielmo Stefanacci (Prato, Italy/Florence International School) played in the only match that went into three sets, as he and Minnesota's Sebastian Vile challenged each other until Vile came away with the win.

Up Next
The Eagles will be back in action at 4 p.m. tomorrow, returning to the Bonita Bay Club. 

FOLLOW ALONG
For complete coverage of FGCU men's tennis follow us on Twitter & Instagram @FGCU_MTEN and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available at the end of the competition.

CJ WEBER
FGCU is led by three-time ASUN Coach of the Year CJ Weber, who has coached 32 ASUN All-Conference selections since joining the Green and Blue in 2011. In his seventh year, Weber has compiled a 93-77 (.547) overall record and a 38-18 (.672) 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 a perfect ASUN regular season in both 2015 and 2016, finishing with conference titles as well as a Coach of the Year honor for Weber. FGCU again won the 2017 ASUN Championship and made its second NCAA appearance. The Eagles returned to the mountaintop by claiming the 2019 regular season and tournament championships. Weber earned his third ASUN Coach of the Year honor and led the Green and Blue to their third trip to the NCAA Tournament. 

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 79 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 12 seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just eight seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2018 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for twenty consecutive semesters. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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