FGCU WTEN vs Iowa Recap

 The FGCU women's tennis team (4-6, 0-1 ASUN) suffered a 5-2 setback to Iowa (8-4, 0-1 Big 10) Sunday afternoon at the FGCU Tennis Complex.

"Today was a really tough match, Iowa is a very solid team," head coach Courtney Vernon said. "They came out with really good energy but we did too. We just have to continue to move forward and stick to the plan. Like I keep telling the ladies, nothing is wasted out here and we're only going to build off experiences like today."

"I'm proud of the hard fought effort today from the team to get this win," said Iowa head coach Sasha Schmid. "We needed this victory, and the team dug in deep today. We have another great opponent in Notre Dane on Tuesday. We are looking forward to a solid day of practice and competing again on Tuesday in Orlando."

It was a close battle once doubles play began as the visitors eventually took the 1-0 lead heading into singles taking the top two courts with a pair of 6-3 decisions. On court No. 3, the tandem of senior Patricia Villar and redshirt sophomore Sara Kelly (4-1) led 5-4 before the match would go mark as unfinished.

The Hawkeyes kept their momentum heading into singles action, claiming three-straight wins on courts No. 3, No. 2 and No. 6. Despite the match being already clinched by Iowa, the Eagles reeled off two consecutive wins. On court No. 5, Villar (1-1) came away with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Michelle Bacalla, giving the senior her first dual match victory of the season. Soon after, Maja Ornberg (6-4) rallied back after dropping her first set, going on to win her second set 6-2, and her third set 6-4.  Sofia Perez (4-5) was the last match to go final as the junior was narrowly edged 11-9 for the third set point.

Singles competition
1. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) def. Elise van Heuvelen (Iowa) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Samantha Mannix (Iowa) def. Sara Kelly (FGCU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Sophie Clark (Iowa) def. Julia Ascúa (FGCU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Ashleigh Jacobs (Iowa) def. Sofia Perez (FGCU) 7-6, 0-6, 1-0 (11-9)
5. Patricia Villar (FGCU) def. Michelle Bacalla (Iowa) 6-2, 7-5
6. Adorabol Huckleby (Iowa) def. Madison Gallegos (FGCU) 6-3, 6-3

Order of finish: 3, 2, 6, 5, 1, 4

Doubles competition
1. Elise van Heuvelen/Samantha Mannix (Iowa) def. Julia Ascúa/Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 6-3
2. Sophie Clark/Ashleigh Jacobs (Iowa) def. Madison Gallegos/Sofia Perez (FGCU) 6-3.
3. Sara Kelly/Patricia Villar (FGCU) vs Adorabol Huckleby/Danielle Bauers (Iowa) 5-4 UF

Order of finish: 1,2

Up Next: 
FGCU will welcome Chattanooga (7-3) at 10 am Wednesday at the FGCU Tennis Complex.