TAMPA, Fla. – The FGCU women's tennis team (2-4) fell at the hands of in-state foe USF (3-3) Saturday afternoon by a score of 5-2.

"Today was a good step, it came down to four tiebreakers on four courts which means each match came down to one or two points," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "This team is learning how to fight and we will grow a lot from today. I love seeing this team trust themselves and the courage they have for one another."

USF took a 1-0 opening lead after capturing the doubles point claiming each court. Heading into singles action, Satomi Momose (Tokyo, Japan/St. Petersburg) tied the match snagging court No. 2 in straight sets (6-4, 7-5). Alba Retortillo (Leon,Spain/ La Anunciata) then gave FGCU a 2-1 margin on court No. 5 as the freshman battled back from a first set deficit (2-6, 6-4, 6-4).

From there, the next three of four matches would head into three sets. Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) and Sofia Perez (Alajuela, Costa Rica/Florida Virtual School) were each narrowly edged by one point in their respective third sets.

Singles competition
1. Laura Perello (USF) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
2. Satomi Momose (FGCU) def. Amelie Boy (USF) 6-4, 7-5
3. Alexandria Mjos (USF) def. Sara Kelly (FGCU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
4. Evelyne Tiron (USF) def. Sofia Perez (FGCU) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
5. Alba Retortillo (FGCU) def. Lucia Garrigues (USF) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
6. Grace Eland (USF) def. Ida Ferding (FGCU) 7-6, 7-6

Doubles competition
1. Amelie Boy/Alexandria Mjos (USF) def. Maja Ornberg/Sofia Perez (FGCU) 6-4
2. Grace Eland/Laura Perello (USF) def. Satomi Momose/Ida Ferding (FGCU) 6-2
3. Janvhi Clark/Evelyne Tiron (USF) def. Lourdes Ramalle/Alba Retortillo (FGCU) 6-4

Up Next
The Green and Blue will be going to Georgia the following weekend, facing Georgia Southern on Friday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m .and Mercer on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m.

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 74-54 overall record (.582) 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-plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just eight-plus 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 women's basketball (2019-20) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. 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-one consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall semester saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA. 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.