FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women's tennis team will close out the regular season at home facing Kennesaw State at 5 p.m. Saturday evening at the FGCU Tennis Complex.
With Thursday's result of Stetson defeating North Alabama, the Eagles officially clinched a spot in the 2019 ASUN Tournament with seeding still to be determined.
After doubles play, FGCU will honor its three seniors in
Julia Ascúa (Santa Fe, Argentina/Domingo G. Silva),
Laura Falceto-Font (Zaragoza, Spain/El Pilar Maristas Zaragoza) and
Patricia Villar (Logrono, Spain/Bachillerato Santa Maria/Louisiana Monroe). The team will also recognize junior
Bridget Forster (Boca Raton, Fla./Florida Virtual School) as it is her last season of competition.
Last Time Out
The Green and Blue split two matches on the road against North Alabama and Lipscomb. FGCU defeated the Lions 6-1 (Apr. 3) before falling to the Bisons, 5-2 (Apr. 6.). FGCU clinched the doubles point versus UNA with a pair of 6-0 and 6-4 decisions and captured all but one match in singles play as Ascúa clinched the match on court No. 3 (6-0, 7-5).
Against Lipscomb, the Eagles collected their points in singles play from
Sara Kelly (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual) on court No. 2 (0-6, 7-6, 6-3) and Forster on court No. 6 (6-0, 6-4).
ASUN Success
FGCU continues to march ahead under the guidance of head coach
Courtney Vernon in her sixth season at the helm. A three-time ASUN Coach of the Year, the Green and Blue have posted a 29-7 record over conference foes under Vernon.
ASUN Standings
T-1. Liberty – 14-6, 5-1
T-1. UNF – 14-7, 5-1
3. Lipscomb – 15-5, 4-2
T-4. Stetson – 12-7, 3-3
T-4. FGCU – 8-9, 3-3
6. NJIT – 13-7, 2-4
T-7. UNA – 6-15, 1-5
T-7. KSU – 2-16, 1-5
Scouting the Owls
In singles competition, freshman Kendall Nash leads the overall squad with six wins as she's collected three wins on court No. 4. Junior Aspen Jarrett plays primarily out of the No. 6 slot, going 3-5 with a pair of wins in conference action. Meanwhile in doubles play, junior Elle Baker and Jarrett have teamed up for a win on court No. 2.
FGCU leads the all-time series 10-2 as they last fell to KSU in 2011 on the road (5-2). The Eagles currently hold an eight-match win streak over the Owls.
ASUN Preseason Poll
The back-to-back ASUN regular-season champion Eagles collected 52 points and one first-place vote in the ASUN Coaches Poll released back in January. Atop the poll, conference newcomer Liberty and UNF each garnered 57 points apiece for a first-place tie. The Ospreys came away with four first-place votes compared to the Flames' three.
Lipscomb (37) was selected to finish fourth in the poll, ahead of Stetson (35) and NJIT (24). Kennesaw State (18) and the ASUN's second newcomer team this year North Alabama (8) rounded out the poll.
Up Next
FGCU will learn its seeding after Saturday's match and head to compete in the 2019 ASUN Tournament in what most likely will be a quarterfinal matchup. This year's championships will be held on the campus of Stetson University Thursday-Saturday, Apr. 18-20.
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 three-time ASUN Coach of the Year Courtney Vernon, who led the Eagles to back-to-back ASUN regular-season crowns in her fifth season in 2018. She has mentored her student-athletes into earning 56 ASUN All-Conference and All-Academic honors, including 2014, 2016 and 2017 ASUN Freshman of the Year as well as the 2016 and 2017 Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the 2018 Player of the Year. Vernon has led the Green and Blue to a 69-51 overall record (.581) and 30-8 conference record (.829) in her six years at FGCU.
#FEEDFGCU
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.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 76 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 35 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 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring, 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
