FORT MYERS, Fla. – Right when the improbable comeback seemed possible, a cramp threatened it all. FGCU, looking for its first-ever win over No. 75 ETSU and first program win over a ranked opponent, had rallied back from a 3-1 deficit to a 3-3 tie with all eyes on
June Bjork. The sophomore from Sweden had a 4-3 third-set lead when it all came to an abrupt halt – Bjork began suffering cramps in both of her legs.
The athletic trainer went to work. Teammates rushed to bring her water. Still in pain but refusing to quit, Bjork willed herself back into action. Play resumed and Bjork refused to concede a game, going on to win the third set, and her match, 6-3. That sealed the team's 4-3 win over the 75
th-ranked Bucs (10-3) and marked ETSU's first loss since Jan. 19.
"Well, for me it's never happened that I cramped like that in my like in my quads and everything," Bjork said, recounting the moment she struggled with cramps during her serve. Despite the setback, Bjork remained determined, stating, "I was just thinking, okay, let's just do the best I can and hope for the best."
It was the cherry on top of an impressive comeback against a ranked opponent, one whose only losses have come against Tennessee and No. 1 Wake Forest. FGCU won the doubles point but quickly fell behind as ETSU claimed straight-set wins at Nos. 3, 6 and 4 singles. That's when the Eagles went to work.
Sabrina Jaramillo rebounded after a disappointing second set to win her match, 6-1, 5-7, 6-1, against Niyati Kukreti. That brought FGCU within one, trailing 3-2.
What began as a marathon match at No. 1 singles between FGCU's
Nora Svensson and ETSU's Ksenija Rage ended in the blink of an eye. Svensson dropped the first set, 6-4, then gutted out a second-set win, 7-5. She could seemingly do no wrong in the third set, not yielding a game to secure the 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 win to tie the match.
"I would say I was focused during the second set and pretty relaxed during the third set," Svensson said.
That's when all eyes turned to Bjork. As the match was unfolding, she found encouragement from her teammates' performances.
"I saw Sabrina won in three and then I saw Nora just bursting her way through the third set," Bjork recalled. "I was like, okay, this is it, like, we got this."
After Bjork found a way to finish with a win, she was immediately swarmed by the rest of her teammates.
"I've never gotten swarmed by, by my team like that, and it was just amazing," Bjork said of the moment. "I mean, it just shows how amazing our girls are and how much we care about each other."
Earlier in the match, FGCU secured the doubles point with victories on courts one and three. Svensson and Bjork triumphed over Alessandra Caceres and Mariangel Estrella, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles.
Africa Burillo Berezak and
Ashley Matz clinched the point with a 6-4 win against Niyati Kukreti and Audelie Lesauvage on court three. East Tennessee State claimed the win on court two, where Julia Millan and Ksenija Rage defeated
Cecilie Maeland and
Anjali Kotecha, 6-2.
In other singles action, Matz was defeated at No. 3 singles with scores of 6-3, 6-3, and Kotecha fell at No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-3. On No. 4 singles, Maeland concluded her match with a 6-2, 7-5 scoreline.
The Eagles are in the final stretch of the regular season and have four matches remaining, all of which are at home. First up is a visit from Harvard on Thursday, the lone remaining unranked opponent. First serve is set for 10 a.m.
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Game Notes:
- This marks the first time in program history the Eagles have defeated East Tennessee State.
- This marks the first time in program history that Florida Gulf Coast has beaten a ranked opponent.
- Sabrina Jaramillo and Nora Svensson each recorded their team-leading 17th win of the season.
