FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University's women's tennis team earned its second straight win of the season with an impressive 4-2 win over Big Ten Conference member, the University of Minnesota, Saturday evening.
"Today was a very exciting match, the ladies are fighting so hard and giving their all," said FGCU head women's tennis coach Courtney Vernon. "A special congratulations to the three freshmen for giving such a fearless fight on the court today and a very special thank you to our fans and supporters who stayed the entire match."
The doubles competition started out tense and the Golden Gophers (1-1) won two doubles matches to lead 1-0 heading into singles. Minnesota stretched its lead to 2-0 when Paloma Goldsmith dropped her match with a 6-3, 6-2 score on court No. 2.
Isabella Colmenares answered for the Eagles and took a 6-4, 6-4 win over Mia Liepert on court No. 2. The Green & Blue then evened the match as freshman Anjali Kotecha won 7-5, 7-6 (10-8) on court No. 3.
Nora Svensson gave the Eagles the go ahead-point as she fought through three sets to seal a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
The crowd eagerly looked on court one as freshman Ashley Matz rallied through three sets to prevail and clinch the match for FGCU, winning 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-4 on her debut performance on court No. one.
Senior Gabriela Macias dropped he first set 3-6 but delivered a 7-6 (2) comeback win in the second set and was up 2-1 in the third set before the match was retired.
The Eagles will return to action Monday to face Columbia University at 10 a.m.
FGCU 4, MINN 2
Doubles Competition
1. Anali Kocevar/Mia Liepert (MINN) def. Ashley Matz/Isabella Colmenares (FGCU) 6-4
2. Nora Svensson/Paloma Goldsmith (FGCU) def. Yinong Ma/Jeselle Ante (MINN) 6-3
3. Sofia Pinto/Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Anjali Kotecha/Gabriela Macias (FGCU) 6-3
Singles Competition
1. Ashley Matz (FGCU) def. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-4
2. Isabella Colmenares (FGCU) def. Mia Liepert (MINN) 6-4, 6-4
3. Anjali Kotecha (FGCU) def. Anali Kocevar (MINN) 7-5, 7-6 (9-7)
4. Gabriela Macias (FGCU) vs. Anlin Xie (MINN) 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 2-1, unfinished
5. Nora Svensson (FGCU) def. Sofia Pinto (MINN) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
6. Deniz Turan (MINN) def. Paloma Goldsmith (FGCU) 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,2,3,5,1)
