Last Time Out:
The Eagles competed in the FGCU Spring Invite where they welcomed Kansas, South Carolina, Rice, Denver and Ole Miss. The matches in the invite in both singles and doubles did not count for the season.
Players to Expect:
The players that made a difference to the team last season include senior Julianna "Juje" Curtis, junior Juli Ascua, sophomore Maja Ornberg and junior Laura "Lau" Falceto Font.
Curtis, the lone senior on the team, was 13-14 in singles and 23-9 in doubles last season. Curtis primarily played doubles with Ascua and two of her doubles wins came from teaming with former USF player Brooke Lashway. In singles, Curtis played primarily between No. 4 and No. 5 singles. The West Des Moines, Iowa/Tampa, Florida native was named A-SUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year as well as a member of the A-SUN All-Academic Team and an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
Ascua, a native of Santa Fe, Argentina, was 16-9 in singles and 21-8 in doubles teaming majorly with Curtis last season. Ascua earned A-SUN First Team All-Conference honors for the second straight season as well as All-Academic Team recognition in her first year of eligibility and becoming an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
Ornberg, a native of Kil, Sweden, spent the entire season in #1 singles and at #2 doubles with Stampfli last season. Ornberg was 14-9 in singles and 12-10 in doubles, primarily with Stampfli. Ornberg was A-SUN Freshman of the Year, a unanimous First Team All-Conference selection, Second Team All-Conference in #2 doubles and a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman Team.
Font was 17-8 in singles and 7-7 in doubles last season. A native of Zaragoza, Spain, Font is a two-time All-Conference Second Team member as well as a member of the A-SUN All-Academic Team where she joins Curtis and Ascua as an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
The newcomers, freshman Madison "Maddi" Gallegos and junior Patrica "Patri" Villar will also be players to look out for. Gallegos joins FGCU after previously playing at the Colorado Connection Academy while Villar joins FGCU after transferring from the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
Scouting FAU:
The Owls (1-2, 0-1 C-USA) have already began their season. The Owls would lose their opening match to Old Dominion (2-5). The Owls beat VCU (5-2) before falling to William and Mary (3-4).
FAU will compete in the Owl Cup Hidden Dual prior to playing FGCU.
Key Players(s):
The players to watch for include sophomore Aliona Bolsova and freshman Natalia Boltinskaya.
Bolsova, a transfer from Oklahoma State, is currently ranked #2 in the nation for women's tennis. A native of Paladrugell, Spain, Bolsova has won all three of her singles matches and is 1-1 in doubles. Bolsova posted a 31-7 singles record and a 20-4 doubles record with Oklahoma and was a member of Big 12 Academic All-Rookie team and All Big 12 Second Team in doubles.
Boltinskaya, a native of Moscow, ranked No. 23 with over 120 singles wins and 80 doubles wins in Tennis Europe and ranked as high as No. 174 in the ITF, boasting 53 singles wins and 50 doubles victories on the ITF circuit. Boltinskaya owns a singles mark of 122-53 and is 82-34 in doubles action.
Series History:
In the series between the two teams, FGCU is 5-4 against FAU. Last time both teams met was at FGCU. The Eagles would beat the Owls 5-2 on February 12, 2017. FAU's last win was on February 12, 2012 where the Owls won 4-3.
The matches will start on Wednesday, January 24 at 11 AM
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