Last season, the women's tennis went 15-5 overall with a perfect 6-0 in conference. They made it to the Conference finals before falling to conference member UNF. During the season, the women's tennis team had some historic moments. They beat USF for the first time in program history and
Throughout the season, 15 conference awards were awarded to the team: Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Three First Team All-Conference members, one Second Team All-Conference member in singles, one All-Conference honors in doubles, three All-Freshman Team members, Scholar-Athlete of the Year and three All-Academic Team members.
The team is led by Coutney Vernon. Vernon, a native of Solon, Ohio, enters her fifth season as head coach.
Prior to her coaching career, Vernon was ranked among the best young tennis players in the region and nation. She was the No. 4-ranked singles player for 18 and Under in the Midwest, the No. 13 ranked singles player in the same demographic nationally and one half of a doubles pairing which was ranked the third-best team in the nation 18 and Under.
Vernon then went on to play for USF. There, Vernon served as the team captain as the No. 1 and 2 player for USF during the 2006-07 season in which she went a perfect 23-0 and qualified for the NCAA singles championship.
Entering the year, she was listed by the International Tennis Association (ITA) as the South Region’s “Player to Watch,” and lived up to that distinction by earning a singles ITA Collegiate Ranking as high as No. 38.
After forfeiting her college eligibility, Vernon turned pro and had her best two finishes in top International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments, reaching the singles quarterfinals at Evansville, Ind. and St. Joseph, Mo., and made it to the semifinal round of both events in doubles action. She also competed in Pro Circuit tournaments in Japan, Mexico and Australia. Vernon’s highest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking was No. 638, while her highest doubles WTA ranking was No. 811.
After her tenure being pro, Vernon returned to USF as an undergraduate assistant tennis coach before taking a position as an assistant men's and women's coach for Colgate University for two years.
After her tenure with the Raiders, Vernon took a job as head coach for FGCU's women's tennis team.
In Vernon's first year, the team went 14-8 overall with a 6-2 record in conference. Vernon recruited and helped then A-SUN Freshman of the Year Breana Stampfli.
In her second year, Vernon went 10-12 with a 4-2 record in conference. They made it to the tournament championship finals match as the No. 3 seed before falling to UNF.
In Vernon's third season, the team went 12-9 with a 5-1 record in conference. She helped then A-SUN Freshman Player of the Year Joselyn Treyes and A-SUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year Elizabeth Means. The team entered as the No. 2 seed in the tournament, but would fall to UNF in the finals. Vernon was also named A-SUN Co-Coach of the Year.
Vernon's third season was the moment for the time to shine. The team went 15-5 overall with a perfect 6-0 record in conference. During the season, the team had two shining moments: they beat USF for the first time in program history in seven matches and conference rival UNF for the first time in 13 matches. As a result, FGCU was named as the No. 1 seed in the tournament, but would once again fall to UNF in the finals. Vernon, however, was named A-SUN Coach of the Year once again.
For coach Vernon, the journey to the championship is still in her grasp for the opportunity.
Joining Vernon as an assistant coach is none other than the Swiss Superwoman: Alex Landert.
A native of Zurich, Switzerland, Landert enters her first season as a coach for the team.
Tennis runs in her family, as her younger brother, Oliver, plays for FGCU's men's tennis team.
Prior to her coaching career, Landert started her collegiate tennis career, as a player, at Seton Hall.
In her freshman year, Landert totaled 12 singles victories and went 8-2 in doubles for her first season. She was named a Big East Academic All-Star.
In her sophomore year, Landert had a 10-8 overall record in singles and a 13-10 overall record on the doubles court.
After her two-season tenure with the Hall, Landert transferred to FGCU as a junior. There, she finished the season with an overall singles record of 6-8 overall with a 4-2 record in conference and 9-7 record playing doubles with a 4-2 mark in the conference. She went 7-9 overall.
In her senior year at FGCU, Landert missed a majority of the season due to a hip injury, but went 6-6 overall in singles competition and 2-0 in conference as the No. 3 position in the A-SUN and posted a 7-5 overall record in doubles competition.
With her moment to shine as an assistant coach, Landert is surely bringing back the Swiss Superwoman at FGCU.
This year, the team will lose two players: senior Breana Stampfli and sophomore Sara Kelly.
Stampfli is graduating in the fall and Kelly is going to play professional for the team.
The team consists of one senior, three juniors, one transfer, two sophomores and one freshman.
Stampfli is graduating in the fall and Kelly is going to play professional for the team.
The team consists of one senior, three juniors, one transfer, two sophomores and one freshman.
The lone senior on the team is Julianna "Juje" Curtis.
Hailing from West Des Moines, Iowa, Curtis comes to FGCU with a passion and a lot of smarts.
In her freshman year, Curtis had overall record of 6-7 with a 3-5 record in singles and 2-6 record in doubles.
In her sophomore year, Curtis, playing strongly at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, went 19-2 overall and a perfect 6-0 in conference play and went 18-11 overall in singles play, including a 4-2 conference mark in the No. 4 position. Curtis did so well that she was named on the A-SUN Second-Team All-Conference in doubles and to the A-SUN All-Academic Team.
Curtis's junior year was her moment to shine. She turned in 13 overall wins this season with five wins coming in dual matches and one coming in conference play mainly transitioning between No. 3 to No. 5 singles. Curtis was 12-5 in #1 doubles, which ranked tied for the second most wins in the conference, including a 3-1 mark in conference play. As a result on the tennis court and off the tennis court, Curtis was unanimously named on the A-SUN All-Academic Team for the second time as well as being named A-SUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year and an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
With her smarts on and off the court, Curtis will make her senior year a journey to remember.
To back up Curtis, three juniors definitely come into play: Julia Ascúa, Sofia Blanno and Laura Falceto Font.
The first junior is Julia Ascúa.
Hailing from Santa Fe, Argentina, Ascúa is more of the powerhouse for the team.
In her freshman year, Ascúa, playing majorly as No. 3 singles, turned in a team-leading 22 overall wins in singles competition and 19-2 in overall in doubles with a perfect 6-0 in conference, teaming up with Curtis in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Ascúa did so well her freshman year, she was named a unanimous selection to the A-Sun All-Conference First Team and was the only freshman to appear on the list, earned Second-Team All-Conference honors in doubles competition, named to the All-Freshman Team and went 2-0 in both singles and doubles play during the A-SUN Tournament where she was named to the All-Tournament Team.
In her sophomore year, Ascúa, still majorly playing her role as No. 3 singles, registered 12 dual match wins and went 16-9 overall in singles with a perfect 4-0 record in conference and still teaming with Curtis, went 12-5 in #1 doubles, which ranked tied for the second most wins in the conference. Ascúa once again earned A-SUN First Team All-Conference for the second time, earned A-SUN All-Academic Team recognition in her first year of eligibility and was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
For the Jet, she will give all the power she has to make it work.
Next up is someone who I share a special handshake with: Sofia Blanno.
Coming from John Creeks, Georgia, Blanno comes into play strongly.
Prior to FGCU, Blanno spent her freshman at Auburn University where she went 1-6 in singles play and 1-2 in doubles competition during the season.
After transferring to FGCU her sophomore year, Blanno appeared in eight matches and went 4-4 overall, mainly as No. 6 singles. She was also named an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
For the Golden Savage, she will get more playing and give it all she's got.
Lastly is the Lioness of Espana: Laura "Lau" Falceto Font.
Hailing from Zaragoza, Spain, Font is mainly the speedster on the team.
In her freshman year, Font, playing primarily at No. 6 singles, led FGCU with 13 dual-match wins and ranked T-3 in the conference in the category with a 6-0 record in conference. Font primarily played with Elizabeth Means in No. 3 doubles to go 8-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play. As a result of her hard work, Font was named a member of the A-SUN All-Conference Second Team and A-SUN All-Freshman Team.
In her sophomore year, Font played anywhere from the No. 3 to No. 6 position in singles action. She went 17-8 overall, led the conference with a 9-3 record while primarily playing #4 singles, and went a perfect 6-0 against A-SUN opponents. As a result, Font was named on the A-SUN All-Conference Second Team for the second time, a member of the A-SUN All-Academic Team and named an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
For the Lioness of Espana, she will show the speed that she's got to bring to the court.
FGCU managed to ink a new transfer to join the team: Patricia "Patri" Villar.
Hailing from Logrono, Spain, Villar came to make her mark with an excellent opportunity.
Prior to FGCU, Villar spent her first two years at the University of Louisiana-Monroe of the Sun Belt Conference.
In her freshman year at ULM, Villar went 20-10 including a 14-5 mark in dual matches and 3-1 record in conference in singles
In her sophomore year, Villar posted a 10-6 overall record and went 4-0 in conference.
Villar also gains experience at the national tournament level. After winning in the Sun Belt Conference Championship, Villar punched her ticket to the tournament before falling in the first round to Texas A&M.
Vilar joins FGCU as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining, and I'm looking forward to the change she will make to help FGCU.
Three sophomores join the fray to help: Bridget Forster, Sofia Perez and Maja Ornberg.
The first sophomore is Bridget Forster.
Hailing from Boca Raton, Florida, Forster makes a great impact for the team.
In her freshman year, Forster, mainly playing in No. 5 and No. 6 singles, went 14-6 overall with a 7-1 record in dual matches and posted a 4-1 record in conference play. Primarily paired with Sara Kelly, Forster went 8-2 in dual matches and 2-2 in the A-SUN. She did so well that she was named a member of the A-SUN All-Freshman Team and named an ITA Scholar-Athlete along with Curtis, Kelly, Blanno, Font and Ascúa.
For Forster, there is no doubt she will give it everything she's got.
A player who is always look to put her foot in the door is Sofia Perez.
Hailing from Alajuela, Costa Rica, Perez came to play late for FGCU, but played strong.
In her freshman year, Perez played in five matches and went 4-1 overall in singles play and went 0-2 doubles.
Even though she was limited playing, Perez came to still make her mark.
The last sophomore who made the biggest statement is Maja Ornberg.
Hailing from Kil, Sweden, Ornberg came to make her mark.
Prior to FGCU, Ornberg competed for Riksidrottsgymnasiet Tennis program where she tallied eight career doubles wins on the ATP/WTA Tour and ITF Pro Circuit and won five singles matches on the above circuits.
In her freshman year, Ornberg took the world by storm. Ornberg recorded 14 overall wins on the season with a 4-2 record in conference, and spent the entire season in #1 singles and was one of five Eagles to register double-digit wins with a 10-7 dual match record. Pairing with Stampfli, Ornberg tied for the conference lead with 9 wins in #2 doubles and went 4-1 against league competition.
Because of her hard work, Ornberg earned a plethora of postseason honors. She was named A-SUN Freshman of the Year, the third in program history, a unanimous A-SUN First Team All-Conference selection, A-SUN Second Team All-Conference in #2 doubles and a unanimous selection to the A-SUN All-Freshman Team.
With her hard work, the Swedish Sensation will continue to make her mark for FGCU.
The last member on the team and the lone freshman is Madison Gallegos.
Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Gallegos came to make her presence known.
Prior to FGCU, Gallegos attended the Colorado Connection Academy, where she played a number of tournaments in the Southwest Florida and competed in the main draw of the Junior Orange Bowl and Orange Bowl where she claimed several intermountain sectional championships and regional championships. She defeated second-seeded Eva Raszkiewicz 1-6, 7-5, 10-8 in the semis and top-seeded Viva Laas 6-3, 6-1 in the finals to be crowned women’s open singles champion at the 47th annual City of Naples Tennis Championships.
Gallegos also won the Southwest Florida Clay Court Championships as the top seed and advanced to the round of 16 at the ITF Indian Harbour Beach. Gallegos was ranked #1 in the intermountain section as a 12, 14 and 16-year-old being tabbed top-50 nationally in all three years.
For Gallegos, this year will be her moment to shine for the team.
Every time I see the women's tennis team play, I think of all the hard work they put in to make their season more stronger each time. Players from Maja and Lau returning to continue their marks to Patricia and Madison make their new marks with a new team.
Nonetheless, the team is looking strong and better than ever each year.
PC: http://www.fgcuathletics.com/index.aspx
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