CORAL GABLES, Fla. – For just the second time in program history, the FGCU men's tennis team (1-3, 0-0 ASUN) defeated Miami (3-3, 2-0 ACC), winning 4-3 while on the road in Coral Gables. Freshman Alessandro Conca (Milan, Italy/ISMC Milano) clinched the match with a three-set, tiebreaker win at the fourth spot in singles play. The victory additionally marks the team's first of the 2021 season.

Conca was one of four Eagles that picked up wins during singles play, joined by redshirt-freshman Randy Wilson (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Miami Palmetto/Louisville), redshirt-sophomore Guglielmo Stefanacci (Prato, Italy/International School of Florence) and redshirt-freshman Magnus Johnson (Naples, Fla./Homeschool/UCF).

"Yesterday's effort definitely set up today's win," head coach CJ Weber said. "I knew that if we competed as well as we did yesterday, and were ready to win this time, we would have a good shot at beating Miami. It was an incredibly entertaining match, very dramatic, and had all the ups and downs of a true battle. I could not be more proud of (Alessandro) Conca. To win in a moment like that when he only just set foot on campus in January is incredibly courageous. All the guys who won played very well and even the guys who lost stayed positive and contributed. We've had a really tough schedule so far and this team has been slowly building to this moment. They've worked very hard for this and I'm just so happy for them. I think this weekend is the start of something great for our squad. We will do nothing but stay focused and look forward."

The Hurricanes came into the match aggressively, quickly claiming the doubles point with a pair of wins at the first and third spots. At the time that the point was clinched, the doubles match featuring Johnson and sophomore Max Damm (Bradenton, Fla./Saint Stephens Episcopal School) favored the Green & Blue, 5-2.

After taking the 1-0 lead, Miami then went on to extend their edge to as much as 3-0 after winning singles matches on courts six and two. Wilson stopped the home team's momentum with a straight-set triumph at the third spot, downing Benjamin Hannestad 6-4, 6-4.

Stefanacci then matched the feat on his own court, turning in a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Franco Aubone. His result trimmed the home team's lead down to 3-2.

The change in momentum carried to the top spot, where Johnson defeated No. 34 Soriano Berrera in three sets to tie things up 3-3. The newcomer took the first set 7-5 before dropping a 2-6 result in the second. In the final set, Johnson rallied back with a 6-2 result to secure the point.

With the teams knotted up at three points apiece, all eyes turned towards court No. 4, which featured Conca and No. 64 Stefan Milicevic. The rookie, who won the first set and lost the second, earned a thrilling, 7-3 tiebreaker win to secure the final point for the Green & Blue.

The victory snapped the Eagles' three-match losing streak and moved Weber to 98 career wins, just two away from the 100 milestone. Additionally, it marks the first time that FGCU has defeated Miami since earning a 4-1 win in 2015.

FGCU will now enjoy about a two-week break before playing its next match on March 11. That day, the team is set to host South Alabama at the FGCU Tennis Complex at 3 p.m. The match against the Jaguars will be the last of the Eagles' non-conference slate.

Results
Singles competition
1. JOHNSON, Magnus (FGCU) def. #34 A. Soriano Barrera (UM) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
2. Bojan Jankulovski (UM) def. MONTES, Juan (FGCU) 6-0, 6-2
3. WILSON, Randy (FGCU) def. Benjamin Hannestad (UM) 6-4, 6-4
4. CONCA, Alessandro (FGCU) def. #64 Stefan Milicevic (UM) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3)
5. STEFANACCI, Gugli (FGCU) def. Franco Aubone (UM) 6-3, 6-4
6. Oren Vasser (UM) def. SAKALAUSKAS, Feliks (FGCU) 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 3, 5, 1, 4

Doubles competition
1. #22 Franco Aubone/Benjamin Hannestad (UM) def. MACIEL, Pedro/MONTES, Juan (FGCU) 6-0
2. Stefan Milicevic/A. Soriano Barrera (UM) vs. DAMM, Max/JOHNSON, Magnus (FGCU) 2-5, unfinished
3. Bojan Jankulovski/Stephen Madonia (UM) def. CONCA, Alessandro/SAKALAUSKAS, Feliks (FGCU) 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 3

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.

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 98-85 (.541) 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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ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 82 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 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 3.43 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 22 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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