FGCU WTEN vs FAU Recap

With their season now underway, the FGCU women's tennis team (1-0) opened their season on the road with a 4-3 win over FAU (1-3).

"These women are strong," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "I am very proud of the fight and focus everyone showed. They stuck to the plan even though we were down 3-0 and they were determined to come back. It was a neat experience to a part of. We are looking forward to getting home and getting back to work tomorrow."

The Eagles lost two out of three doubles matches, but bounced back with four singles. The team of junior Patricia Villar and Laura Falceto-Font won the only doubles match as beat the team of seniors Jennifer Leib and Marisa Ruiz by a score of 6-3 on No. 3 doubles. Villar was making her FGCU debut after spending her first two seasons at the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

The team of junior Julia Ascua and senior Julianna Curtis lost to the team of sophomore Aliona Bolsova and freshman Jemi Aguilar by a score of 4-6 while the team of sophomore Maja Ornberg and freshman Madison Gallegos lost 2-6 to freshman Natalia Boltinskaya and redshirt freshman Ja'Cara Gillis, thus giving FAU the first point.

With the score 1-0 in favor of FAU, singles went underway. Ascua would fall to Bolsova 2-6, 0-6. Falceto-Font would fall next losing 0-6, 2-6 to Gills.

With the score 3-0 in favor of FAU, it seemed like it FGCU would lose their opening matchup to start the season, but the Eagles would not give up and fought back in the remaining four singles matches.

Ornberg got the first point for FGCU as the former A-SUN Freshman of the Year beat Boltinskaya 6-1, 6-3. After sophomore Sofia Perez followed with a 6-4 pair decision over junior Kristen Thoms, Villar would tie the score at 3-3 with a 6-3, 7-6 win over senior Jennifer Leib. This was Villar's singles debut for FGCU.

It all came down to one final match between Gallegos and Aguilar. Gallegos would win the first set, but was forced to play a third set after losing in the second set. With all doubt not getting in the way of her playing, the lone freshman sealed the deal strongly with a finish in the third set and gave FGCU the final point needed and the first win of the season. Galllegos finished the match with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 decision.

Up next, the Eagles open with their home opener against FIU on February 4 at 2 p.m.