FORT MYERS, Fla. – Strong around all performances in doubles and singles action helped give the FGCU women's tennis team a 5-2 win over the visiting South Alabama Jaguars, Friday afternoon.

After falling behind on court No. 1 in doubles, the tandem of Lourdes Ramalle (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Portland) and Alba Retortillo (Leon,Spain/ La Anunciata) produced a 6-2 victory on court No. 2. Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping)  and Sofia Perez (Alajuela, Costa Rica/Florida Virtual School) then completed the comeback with a 6-4 win on court No. 2, to give FGCU (1-2) a 1-0 lead heading into singles where the squad captured four matches.

"The ladies competed well, today. South Alabama is a very solid team," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "We definitely took a few steps forward this afternoon. The girls came out on top in doubles play and had more energy which was an improvement from yesterday. Win or lose, we have to keep getting better and growing. We're looking forward to having a whole week of training coming up and improving on our list of things that we need to get better at."

Holding a 3-0 advantage, Sara Kelly (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual School) clinched the match for the Eagles on court No. 3 in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). Satomi Momose (Tokyo, Japan/St. Petersburg College) moved to 3-0 this season playing on court No. 2 for the first time this year. The Tokyo native went into a third set tiebreaker, coming out on top, 10-5.

South Alabama's (0-1) two victories came on courts one and four.

FGCU will hit the road now and face FIU on Saturday, Feb. 1 and then FAU on Sunday, Feb. 2.

 Singles competition
1. Fujioka, Yu (USA) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
2. Satomi Momose (FGCU) def. Moreno, Cami (USA) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-5)
3. Sara Kelly (FGCU) def. Kohoutova, Nikola (USA) 6-4, 6-4
4. Takanishi, Yurie (USA) def. Lourdes Ramalle (FGCU) 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 (11-8)
5. Alba Retortillo (FGCU) def. Monsalve, Diana (USA) 6-1, 7-5
6. Sofia Perez (FGCU) def. Soto, Leslie (USA) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Fujioka, Yu/Kohoutova, Nikola (USA) def. Ida Ferding/Satomi Momose (FGCU) 6-1
2. Maja Ornberg /Sofia Perez (FGCU) def. Takanishi, Yurie/Moreno, Cami (USA) 6-4
3. Lourdes Ramalle /Alba Retortillo (FGCU) def. Pasanen, Milka/Monsalve, Diana (USA) 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,5,3,1,2,4)

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.

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IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!

HEAD COACH COURTNEY VERNON
FGCU's women's tennis team is led by three-time ASUN Coach of the Year Courtney Vernon (entering 7th season) 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 59 ASUN All-Conference and All-Academic honors, including 2014, 2016 and 2017 ASUN Freshman of the Year as well as the 2016, 2017 and 2019 Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the 2018 Player of the Year. Vernon has led the Green and Blue to a 73-52 overall record (.584) and 31-8 conference record (.795).

#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 80 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.