FORT MYERS, Fla. – Satomi Momose along with Alba Retortillo collected singles wins as the FGCU women's tennis team fell to Kentucky, 5-2, in the season opener Wednesday night.

Momose (Tokyo, Japan/St. Petersburg College) put FGCU (0-1) on the board collecting a pair of 6-4 sets on court No. 3, while Retortillo (Leon,Spain/ La Anunciata) battled back from a 7-5 first set loss, only to win the second set 6-1 and a 10-8 tiebreaker on court No. 6.

"First of all, congratulations to Kentucky, they played a really tough match tonight," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "The girls competed and I'm excited how the freshmen came out and really fought tonight. We have a lot to improve on so I'm really grateful we have a week now to train before we play back-to-back matches next week against Miami (OH) and South Alabama."

Kentucky (1-0), who is receiving votes in the ITA top-25 poll, took a 1-0 lead after producing wins on courts one and two in doubles action. Lesedi Jacobs would come down with the clinching point on the top court.

The Eagles return to the courts next Thursday, Jan. 16 for a match against Miami (OH) at 10 a.m.

 Singles
1. Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Carlota Molina (UK) def. Sara Kelly (FGCU) 7-6 (1-0), 6-2
3. Satomi Momose (FGCU) def. Diana Tkachenko (UK) 6-4, 6-4
4. Carla Girbau (UK) def. Ida Ferding (FGCU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) def. Lourdes Ramalle (FGCU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Alba Retortillo (FGCU) def. Brianna Tulloch (UK) 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-8)

Doubles
1. Anastasia Tkachenko/Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Satomi Momose/Ida Ferding (FGCU) 6-2
2. Carla Girbau/Diana Tkachenko (UK) def. Julia Fisch/Sara Kelly (FGCU) 6-4
3. Alba Retortillo/Lourdes Ramalle (FGCU) vs. Carlota Molina/Brianna Tulloch (UK) 3-4, unfinished

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

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 (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 72-53 overall record (.576) 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.