TAMPA, Fla. — FGCU made history and played spoiler Friday afternoon as the Eagles (5-1) recorded the program's win in Tampa over the Bulls, doing so while ruining the debut of USF's new tennis facility with a 4-2 victory.
The win marked the third time in the past four meetings that a
Courtney Vernon-coached FGCU team has left the Bulls seeing red. Vernon, who is now 146-100 (.593) at FGCU, is a former letterwinner and assistant coach for the Bulls who graduated from USF in 2012.
In addition to leaving the Bulls seeing red, FGCU spoiled the inaugural match at the newly-constructed USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
"I don't think it affected us as a team that much, but it's always different to play at new courts,"
Nora Svensson responded after being asked if the idea of spoiling the facility debut was a motivating factor for the Eagles. "At the same time, it was the same for USF, considering it was their first match at their new facility."
Svensson was critical to the Eagles' success in securing the win, going 2-0 on the day. First, she paired with
Anjali Kotecha to decide the doubles point in FGCU's favor with a 6-4 win, handing USF's Sienna Leeson and Margherita Marcon just their third loss of the season. That doubles pair of Svensson and Kotecha recorded that 6-4 win and remained undefeated on the year (11-0) despite inexplicably falling out of the national rankings this week.
Then Svensson clinched the team win for the Eagles in three sets at No. 1 singles. After dropping the first set to USF's Melisa Senli, Svensson put together back-to-back 6-3 set wins to win the match and secure the program's first win in Tampa over the Bulls, moving to 11-3 on the year in singles play.
"I think it gives the whole team a lot of confidence and motivation," Svensson said of the historic win. "It shows that we are a strong team even when we're away from home."
Africa Burillo Berezak and
June Bjork moved to 5-1 on the year, opening doubles play with a 6-4 win over Senli and Francesca Miglio before USF evened the doubles competition with a win at No. 3. In singles action, the Bulls managed to win at the No. 3 and No. 6 singles spots.
In singles play, South Florida struck first with a win at No. 6 singles where Amelie Drukerova edged out
Sabrina Jaramillo, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). The Eagles responded with a win at No. 5 singles as Kotecha secured a straight-set victory over Charlotte Ruud, 7-5, 6-4.
Cecilie Maeland added another point for Florida Gulf Coast at No. 4 singles, defeating Francesca Miglio 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. That moved Maeland to 5-2 in singles play this season.
South Florida narrowed the margin with Margherita Marcon's triumph at No. 3 singles, overcoming
Ashley Matz in a three-set battle, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, before Svensson clinched the match for the Eagles with a dramatic comeback at No. 1 singles. The match at No. 2 singles between No. 112
June Bjork and #7 Sienna Leeson was left unfinished with the score standing at 5-7, 6-3.
The next challenge for the Eagles will be on Friday, Feb. 13 at noon against Florida Atlantic at the FAU Tennis Complex in Boca Raton, Florida.
Game Notes:
- Florida Gulf Coast beat South Florida in Tampa for the first time in program history.
- The Eagles are now 4-12 all-time against the Bulls and 1-7 when playing at USF.
- South Florida opened its newly constructed USF Varsity Tennis Courts facility on Friday.
- Florida Gulf Coast head coach
Courtney Vernon is a graduate (2012) and former player at South Florida.
- The Eagles have now won two-straight and three of the past four matches against South Florida.
-
Nora Svensson's win in both doubles and singles were point-clinching wins, sealing the doubles point and ending the match with her singles win.
- Svensson and
Anjali Kotecha are now 11-0 this season in doubles.
Results:
Doubles
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Nora Svensson/
Anjali Kotecha (FGCU) def. Sienna Leeson/Margherita Marcon (USF) 6-4
June Bjork/Afr Burillo Berezak (FGCU) def. Melisa Senli/Francesca Miglio (USF) 6-4
Cecilie Maeland/
Ashley Matz (FGCU) vs. Charlotte Ruud/Josefine Falster (USF) 3-6 (unfinished)
Singles
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#11-3
Nora Svensson (FGCU) def. #6-8 Melisa Senli (USF), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
#6-4
June Bjork (FGCU) vs. Sienna Leeson (USF), 5-7, 6-3 (unfinished)
Margherita Marcon (USF) def.
Ashley Matz (FGCU), 6-3, 5-7, 2-6
Cecilie Maeland (FGCU) def. Francesca Miglio (USF), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Anjali Kotecha (FGCU) def. Charlotte Ruud (USF), 7-5, 6-4
Amelie Drukerova (USF) def.
Sabrina Jaramillo (FGCU), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
