FORT MYERS, Fla. – Freshmen
Anjali Kotecha,
Nora Svensson and
Ashley Matz had stellar college debut performances to help Florida Gulf Coast University's women's tennis open the season with a 5-2 win over Middle Tennessee State University on Friday.
"This was a good opening match for the ladies to play," said FGCU head women's tennis coach
Courtney Vernon. "They are competing very hard at every spot and they will grow a lot from today and we look forward to playing again tomorrow."
The Eagles (1-0) lost the doubles point but immediately regained the home crowd's confidence in singles.
Matz wasted no time winning 6-2, 6-2 on court No. 2 and senior
Isabella Colmenares followed along taking court No.1 with a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Kotecha was next in winners' row with a 6-1, 7-5 mark for her first college match. Senior
Gabriela Macias clinched the match for the Eagles going 6-2, 6-4 on court No. 5.
The Blue Raiders responded on court No. 6 as
Paloma Goldsmith fell 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-8) to add their second point of the day.
FGCU got its final point when Svensson rallied through three sets to win 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 1-0 (10-5) on court No. 4.
The Eagles will return to action Saturday afternoon to face Minnesota at 1 p.m.
FGCU 5, MTSU 2
Doubles Competition
1.
Isabella Colmenares/Ashley Matz (FGCU) def. Eloise Swarbrick/Lena Peyer (MTSU) 6-3
2. Alessia Truden/Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) def.
Anjali Kotecha/Gabriela Macias (FGCU) 6-4
3. Cassidy Mataia/Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) def.
Nora Svensson/Paloma Goldsmith (FGCU) 6-3
Singles Competition
1.
Isabella Colmenares (FGCU) def. Alessia Truden (MTSU) 6-2, 6-3
2.
Ashley Matz (FGCU) def. Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) 6-2, 6-2
3.
Anjali Kotecha (FGCU) def. Lena Peyer (MTSU) 6-1, 7-5
4.
Nora Svensson (FGCU) def. Zenn Lim (MTSU) 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 1-0 (10-5)
5.
Gabriela Macias (FGCU) def. Cassidy Mataia (MTSU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) def.
Paloma Goldsmith (FGCU) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-8)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,1,3,5,6,4)
