FORT MYERS, Fla. — FGCU women's tennis made history Sunday as the program's 7-0 win over Middle Tennessee marked the first time the Eagles have recorded a full-match sweep over the Blue Raiders (1-1). Florida Gulf Coast (4-1) secured the doubles point with wins on all three courts and swept the singles matches, achieving straight-set victories across all six positions.
This marks the second straight win for Florida Gufl Coast and the fourth in five matches to begin the year.
The Eagles secured the doubles point with decisive victories on all three courts.
Nora Svensson and
Anjali Kotecha defeated Sara Conde and Zora Koenig 6-2 at No. 1 doubles maintaining their unblemished mark on the year.
June Bjork and
Africa Burillo's 6-3 win over Zenn Lim and Lena Peyer followed at No. 2 doubles, finally securing the win on the third match point. While that third match point was being played out, Cecili Johannessen Maeland and
Ashley Matz cleaned up at No. 3 doubles, clinching the win and completing the sweep on their first match point with a 6-4 victory against Rutuja Chaphalkar and Sthefany Lima.
In singles play, Bjork got the Green & Blue off to a strong start with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 2 singles over Rutuja Chaphalkar. Kotecha followed with a straight-set win at No. 4 singles, defeating Koenig 7-6 (7-5), 6-0. Svensson was in the driver's seat at No. 1 singles with a smooth 6-2 opening set victory, but found herself down 5-2 in the second frame. She won the next two games, then evened the set at 5-5 courtesy of two double faults given by Middle Tennessee's Peyer. That allowed Svensson to continue her momentum to clinch the singles match and team victory with a 7-5 second-set win.
Burillo edged out Lim at No. 5 singles in a tense three-set battle, prevailing 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (12-10) as she claimed the third-set tiebreak courtesy of a Lim double fault.
Sabarina Jaramillo contributed to the sweep with a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Conde at No. 6 singles. Johannessen Maeland wrapped up the singles matches with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win against Lima on court three, winning seven of the last nine points to clinch the match.
Florida Gulf Coast has a week off before visiting USF on Friday, Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. at the USF Varsity Tennis Complex in Tampa, Florida.
Doubles
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Nora Svensson/
Anjali Kotecha (FGCU) def. Sara Conde/Zora Koenig (MTSU) 6-2
June Bjork/
Africa Burillo (FGCU) def. Zenn Lim/Lena Peyer (MTSU) 6-3
Cecili Johannessen Maeland/
Ashley Matz (FGCU) def. Rutuja Chaphalkar/Sthefany Lima (MTSU) 6-4
Singles
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Nora Svensson (FGCU) def. Lena Peyer (MTSU) 6-2, 7-5
June Bjork (FGCU) def. Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) 6-2, 6-1
Cecili Johannessen Maeland (FGCU) def. Sthefany Lima (MTSU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Anjali Kotecha (FGCU) def. Zora Koenig (MTSU) 7-6(5), 6-0
Africa Burillo (FGCU) def. Zenn Lim (MTSU) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (12-10)
Sabrina Jaramillo (FGCU) def. Sara Conde (MTSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Game Notes:
- The Eagles are now 5-1 all-time against Middle Tennessee.
- Florida Gulf Coast has won five consecutive matches against MTSU.
- This was just the first time that the Eagles have swept Middle Tennessee, 7-0.
- Nora Svensson and Anjali Kotcha are now 8-0 this season in doubles, with a 5-0 mark in dual matches.
