FORT MYERS, Fla. – It was packed at the FGCU Tennis Complex, but the FGCU men's tennis team (3-4) couldn't pull off what would have been an upset win, as it dropped a 4-0 decision to in-state opponent Miami (7-2).

Though the Hurricanes aren't ranked as a team, they are represented in the ITA standings by a couple of doubles pairs, as well as junior Adria Soriano Barrer, who checks in at No. 32 in singles play, thus proving to be one of the tougher groups the Eagles have faced so far this season.

"We didn't come out on top tonight, but I was happy with the way the guys fought," head coach CJ Weber said. "We sunk our teeth into the match and played some good, entertaining tennis. I want to continue to build on these types of elite performances. It was really, really exciting competition against a tough team."

Miami came out strong and clinched the early doubles point thanks to wins on courts one and three. The duo of seniors Felipe Ramirez (Armenia, Colombia) and Feliksas Sakalauskas (Palanga, Lithuania) dropped a 6-3 result to the No. 14 team of Barrer/Hannestad before a 6-4 win on the third court secured a 1-0 edge for the Hurricanes.

At the time the doubles point was clinched, senior Marcelo Tebet (Londrina, Brazil) and junior Juan Montes (Pereira, Colombia) were tied up at 5-5 on the second court.

The Hurricanes carried their momentum into singles play, quickly earning a straight-set victory on court two which put the team up 2-0. Triumphs at the sixth and fourth flight eventually provided the winning points for Miami as it claimed the 4-0 sweep.

The teams did not play out the match once the final result was clinched. That being said, both Ramirez and Tebet had won their opening sets on courts one and three, respectively. Ramirez downed No. 32 Barrer in the opening set before dropping a 6-2 result in the second. Tebet defeated Hannestad 6-4 before narrowly losing a 7-6 tiebreaker.

Though the final result did not favor FGCU, Weber was still thrilled by the environment that Eagle fans created during tonight's match.

"I'd like to thank all of the fans for coming out," Weber added. "I don't know the final headcount, but this was one of the best crowds we've had in my time here. Not only was the crowd really big, but they were engaged in the match and gave us a lot of energy. I feel like we gave them something fun to watch."

The Eagles will hit the road for their next to matches, which will feature competition against UNC Greensboro (Feb. 22) and UNC Wilmington (Feb. 23). Both matches will be played at the Seahawks' home courts in Wilmington.

For complete coverage of FGCU men's tennis, follow the Eagles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FGCU_MTen and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com. You can also sign up to have news on FGCU men's tennis or other programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.

Results
Singles competition
1. RAMIREZ, Felipe (FGCU) vs. #32 Adria Soriano Barrer (UM) 6-3, 2-6, 2-3, unfinished
2. Francisco Bastias (UM) def. MONTES, Juan (FGCU) 6-1, 6-2
3. TEBET, Marcelo (FGCU) vs. Benjamin Hannestad (UM) 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), unfinished
4. Dane Dunlap (UM) def. SAKALAUSKAS,Feliksas (FGCU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
5. STEFANACCI,Guglielmo (FGCU) vs. Bojan Jankulovski (UM) 5-7, 3-5, unfinished
6. Franco Aubone (UM) def. LOPEZ, Juan (FGCU) 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: (2, 6, 4)

Doubles competition
1. #14 Benjamin Hannestad/Franco Aubone (UM) def. RAMIREZ, Felipe/SAKALAUSKAS,Feliksas (FGCU) 6-3
2. Dane Dunlap/Bojan Jankulovski (UM) vs. TEBET, Marcelo/MONTES, Juan (FGCU) 5-5, unfinished
3. Adria Soriano Barrer/Francisco Bastias (UM) def. BRADFORD, Carter/STEFANACCI,Guglielmo (FGCU) 6-4
Order of finish: (1, 3)

CJ WEBER
FGCU is led by three-time ASUN Coach of the Year CJ Weber, who has coached 32 ASUN All-Conference selections since joining the Green and Blue in 2011. In his seventh year, Weber has compiled a 96-81 (.542) overall record and a 38-18 (.672) record in ASUN play. In 2014-15, Weber guided the Eagles to their first-ever ASUN Championship and first-ever ASUN Regular Season title after a program-best 17 wins. In his third season, Weber led Jordi Vives to a No. 35 national ranking, a nation-leading 14-match unbeaten streak and the round of 32 in the 2014 NCAA Tournament - the program's first appearance. The Eagles completed a perfect ASUN regular season in both 2015 and 2016, finishing with conference titles as well as a Coach of the Year honor for Weber. FGCU again won the 2017 ASUN Championship and made its second NCAA appearance. The Eagles returned to the mountaintop by claiming the 2019 regular season and tournament championships. Weber earned his third ASUN Coach of the Year honor and led the Green and Blue to their third trip to the NCAA Tournament. 

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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!
 
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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.
 
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