FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University men's tennis triumphed over the Bellarmine Knights, 4-3 on Friday.
In a match that would provide clarity for FGCU's seeding in the upcoming Atlantic Sun Conference tournament, the Eagles (11-13, 5-2 ASUN) beat the Knights (6-10, 3-4 ASUN) to secure no lower than a four seed.
The North Florida-Lipscomb match on Saturday will further elucidate the Green and Blue's seeding. FGCU can only still be a three or a four seed. A Lipscomb win would assure the three seed. A North Florida win would still allow for FGCU to fall to the four seed.
The Eagles started off the night dropping the doubles point despite a 6-0 win from
Guglielmo Stefanacci and
Pablo Paternostro on court two.
Going in down a point to singles action, FGCU fought back with three consecutive wins. Johnathan Baron secured the first point with a 6-1, 6-3 win at singles two.
Ninad Raut took the second court for FGCU, 6-2, 6-2, before Paternostro secured his second bagel of the night in the third set of his singles match to clinch his match 2-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Bellarmine bounced back to win at singles one before Stefanacci clinched the match with a 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 win as he sprawled out on the court in relief.
The Green and Blue will return to action for the regular season finale on Sunday against Austin Peay (6-12, 1-6 ASUN) at 3 p.m. at the FGCU Tennis Complex.
