FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women's team (1-2) collected their first win of the season handing Liberty (6-1) its first loss by a score of 5-2, Friday afternoon at the FGCU Tennis Complex.

"Today the team fought for each other," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "They cheered and made it about the team. We have a lot to work on but today was a good step. A special thank you to our fans and donors who came out today. This would not be possible without them. They are a gift to our program."

FGCU battled back after losing court No. 2 in doubles play to win the next two. On court No. 3. The team of Lourdes Ramalle (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Portland) and Alba Retortillo (Leon,Spain/ La Anunciata) ignited the comeback with a 6-3 win. Moments later on the top court, Maja Ornberg (Kil, Sweden/De la Gardiegymnasiet, Lidkoping) and Emma Bardet (Vichy, France/Long Beach State) sealed the deal, claiming a tough, 7-5 set.

In singles competition, Ornberg gave the Green and Blue a 2-0 advantage with a straight-set victory on court No. 1. The visitors made the match interesting snagging wins on courts four and three, but FGCU jumped back out in front on court No. 6. Ida Ferding (Vastera, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium) dropped her first set, only to win her next two, 6-0, 6-3.

From there, Bardet clinched the match on court No. 2 in a grueling three-set outing (6-7, 6-2, 7-5) before Retortillo put the finishing touches in her three-set triumph on court No. 6 (2-6, 6-0, 6-3).

FGCU is now 3-0 all-time versus Liberty. In this year's COVID modified schedule, since Liberty is in the North Division and not the South Division like FGCU, today's contest does count towards each team's conference record.

Up Next
FGCU will host FAU (3-2) Sunday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.

Singles competition
1. ORNBERG, Maja (FGCU) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIBERTYW) 6-2, 6-4
2. BARDET, Emma (FGCU) def. Tiffany Nguyen (LIBERTYW) 6-7, 6-2, 7-5
3. Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) def. PEREZ, Sofia (FGCU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Esther Lovato (LIBERTYW) def. NORIN, Fanny (FGCU) 6-4, 6-3
5. RETORTILLO, Alba (FGCU) def. Grace Hashiguchi (LIBERTYW) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
6. FERDING, Ida (FGCU) def. Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) 2-6, 6-0, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. ORNBERG, Maja/BARDET, Emma (FGCU) def. Alexandra Almborg/Eloise Saraty (LIBERTYW) 7-5
2. Tiffany Nguyen/Micaela Ode Mitre (LIBERTYW) def. PEREZ, Sofia/NORIN, Fanny (FGCU) 6-2
3. RAMALLE, Lourdes/RETORTILLO, Alba (FGCU) def. Grace Hashiguchi/Marina Davtyan (LIBERTYW) 6-3

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

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 (8th 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 78-59 overall record (.569) and 32-8 conference record (.800).

#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 83 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 38 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 (No. 24, 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 (APR) in their sport and have had the highest percentage of teams so honored from these two groups over each of the past three years. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.46 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 22 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall and 2020 Spring semesters each 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.