FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women's tennis team is on the road for the first time this season, facing FIU Saturday afternoon at 1 pm in Miami, followed by FAU Sunday morning at 10 am in Boca Raton.

The Green and Blue
The Eagles are coming off a 5-2 victory over South Alabama at home. FGCU started the morning taking two of the three doubles matches as Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) and Sofia Perez (Alajuela, Costa Rica/Florida Virtual School) clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win on court No. 2. In singles play, the team won four matches with Sara Kelly (Naples, Fla./Florida Virtual School) clinching the fourth point on court No. 3 in straight sets (6-4, 6-4).

FIU
The Panthers produced a record of 11-8 in 2019, losing in the Conference-USA tournament final against North Texas. Kamila Umarova is returning this year after going 8-2 at No. 2 singles last season, also returning is Basak Akbas with a record of 9-1 at No. 3 singles in 2019. Together they have combined for a record of 6-2 on the top doubles court.

All-time, the Eagles trail the series 1-6.

FAU
The Owls turned in a 10-8 overall record last season, faltering in the Conference-USA tournament against Rice, 4-2. Martina Kudelova returns for her sophomore year after going 11-3 in the top spot last spring. Together with her partner May Kimhi, they went 5-2 at the No. 2 doubles court.

FGCU leads the all-time series 7-5, most recently winning last year's match 5-2 at home.

Up Next
The Green and Blue return home on Saturday, Feb. 8 against FAMU at 10 am.

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.

E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
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.