NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The FGCU women's tennis team (8-9, 3-3 ASUN) dropped a 5-2 match to Lipscomb (15-4, 4-1 ASUN) Saturday afternoon at the Huston Marsh Griffith Tennis Center.

"Congrats to Lipscomb today, they gave us a tough battle," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "We'll get back to work Monday as we prepare to end the regular season next Saturday against Kennesaw State. We are also excited to honor our three wonderful seniors that day as they've each meant so much to this program over the years." 

The Eagles trailed 1-0 following doubles play after falling on court No. 1 and No. 3. Heading into singles play, junior Bridget Forster (Boca Raton, Fla./Florida Virtual School) tied the match 1-1 picking up a 6-0, 6-4 win on court No. 6.

Lipscomb though, answered with three-straight victories as junior Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) and senior Patricia Villar (Logrono, Spain/Bachillerato Santa Maria/Louisiana Monroe) fell in close third-set battles, respectively. With the match already clinched on the Bisons' side, sophomore Sara Kelly (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual) produced FGCU's second point of the match in comeback fashion, pulling away with a third-set triumph (0-6, 7-6, 6-3) out of the second slot.

All said four of the six singles matches for FGCU went into a third set. In the process, the loss halted a dominating 11-match win streak the Eagles held over the Bisons.

 Singles competition
1. Vika Dzyuba (LIP) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Sara Kelly (FGCU) def. Kate Popova (LIP) 0-6, 7-6, 6-3
3. Madeleine Brooks (LIP) def. Julia Ascúa (FGCU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Liza Diachenko (LIP) def. Sofia Perez (FGCU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
5. Denise Buberl (LIP) def. Patricia Villar (FGCU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
6. Bridget Forster (FGCU) def. Maddox Bandy (LIP) 6-0, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Vika Dzyuba/Denise Buberl (LIP) def. Maja Ornberg/Julia Ascúa (FGCU) 6-3
2. Madeleine Brooks/Kate Popova (LIP) vs. Sara Kelly/Patricia Villar (FGCU) 5-3, unfinished
3. Thabile Tshatedi/Kate Kandyba (LIP) def. Sofia Perez/Bridget Forster (FGCU) 6-4

Up Next
FGCU will close out the regular season facing Kennesaw State (2-14, 1-3 ASUN) at 5 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 13 on Senior Day.

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 75 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.