STATESBORO, GA – The FGCU women's tennis team (3-4) handed Georgia Southern (4-2) its second loss of the year coming away with a 4-3 decision Friday afternoon.

The ladies faced a lot of adversity today and it was a good step forward," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "They are growing every match and learning how to battle through different exciting challenges."

Due to weather conditions, both teams went ahead and started singles action first. Down 2-0, Ida Ferding (Vasteras, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium) captured the first victory on court No. 5 in straight sets (6-3, 6-4). Soon after, FGCU reeled off two-straight wins to jump ahead 3-2. Sofia Perez (Alajuela, Costa Rica/Florida Virtual School) captured a 6-4, 6-4 win on court No. 3, while Lourdes Ramalle (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Portland) came out on top on court No. 6, 6-0, 7-5.

GS would capture the final singles win on court No. 2 to send it to doubles for the deciding point. On court No. 3, the tandem of Ramalle and Alba Retortillo (Leon,Spain/ La Anunciata) finished first, cruising to a 6-0 triumph. Moments later, Julia Fisch (New York, NY/Arizona State) and Sara Kelly (Naples, FL/Florida Virtual School) officially won it for the Green and Blue on court No.2 with a 6-1 win.

Singles competition
1. Boixader, Paula (GS) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 7-6, 6-2
2. Meier, Nadja (GS) def. Sara Kelly (FGCU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
3. Sofia Perez (FGCU) def. de Winter, Arianne (GS) 6-4, 6-4
4. van Diemen,Charlotte (GS) def. Alba Retortillo (FGCU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Ida Ferding (FGCU) def. Hijos, Paula (GS) 6-3, 6-4
6. Lourdes Ramalle (FGCU) def. Goines, Elizabeth (GS) 6-0, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Boixader, Paula/de Winter, Arianne (GS) vs. Maja Ornberg/Sofia Perez (FGCU) 3-4, unfinished
2. Julia Fisch/Sara Kelly (FGCU) def. Daniel, Hannah/Meier, Nadja (GS) 6-1
3. Lourdes Ramalle/Alba Retortillo (FGCU) def. Hijos, Paula/van Diemen,Charlotte (GS) 6-0


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

Up Next
FGCU will take on Mercer Saturday morning at 11 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 75-54 overall record (.581) 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 81 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.