FORT MYERS, Fla. – A year after a heartbreaking finish in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Tournament finals, Florida Gulf Coast women's tennis returns its entire squad while adding two players – one a transfer from Miami (Fla.). Now this group of nine ladies has its eyes on the finish line, and the race begins this weekend at the Bedford Cup.

In addition to returning all seven players from last year's squad, FGCU returns three All-ASUN players, including first-team honoree Nora Svensson, second-team selection June Bjork and Sabrina Jaramillo, the ASUN Freshman of the Year. Click here to learn more about Sabrina Jaramillo and the tennis success she found over the summer in the latest episode of Eagle Insight.

Of the seven players returning, four won 15 or more singles matches last season with six winning double-digit singles matches. Of those seven, five won double-digit doubles matches as well.

"I am excited about getting our season underway on Friday," said FGCU head women's tennis coach Courtney Vernon. "We have a young and hungry team this year. These ladies are focused and motivated. I'm looking forward to seeing the growth in them from over the summer play out on the courts."

The tournament starts Friday at 9 a.m. with doubles as Ashley Matz and Miami-transfer Maria Vargas face UCF's Olivia Bergler and Jade Psonka in the round of 16, while June Bjork and Nora Svensson face Florida A&M's Gabrielle Pierce and Arien Thomas. Then at 9:45 a.m., Africa Burillo Berezak and Anjali Kotecha face FAU's Aleixa Patru before facing USF's Kelly Leona Vargas Gonzalez and Paulina Montiel at 10:30 a.m.

Singles action begins at Noon as Bjork faces Stetson's Yuki Mizuguchi and Svensson battles UCF's Jade Psonka while Jaramillo meets Stetson's Lena Karolina Hornecka. Then at 1:30 p.m., Vargas faces FIU's Aleksandra Simeva, Kotecha faces Florida A&M's Gabrielle Pierce and Africa Burillo Berezak battles FAU's Ioana Teodora Sava. Ashley Matz received a bye in the round of 16 and advances to the quarterfinals to face the winner between Florida State's Lauren Anderson and Stetson's Elizabeta Rozhkova.

The 2026 event is hosted by USF at its new Varsity Tennis Courts, a facility FGCU helped open last season with a 4-2 win over the Bulls on Feb. 6. The Eagles now head up to the 12-court facility to open the new season at the Bedford Cup, an annual premier collegiate tournament that showcases the best Division I tennis players from programs across the state of Florida.

This weekend's format includes main singles draws, consolation brackets and doubles competitions. Friday's action includes the doubles round of 16 and quarterfinals while singles competition will feature the Round of 16. On Saturday, doubles competition enters the semifinals round with singles competition advancing to the quarterfinals and semifinals. Both the singles and doubles competitions will have the finals played on Sunday.
 
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