It came down to both team's top players in the end as the fourth-seeded FGCU women's tennis team (11-10) fell in the A-SUN Championship final to second-seeded UNF (17-7), 4-3, Saturday afternoon, at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center on the campus of Stetson University.
"Congratulations to UNF today, they gave us a tough battle and challenged us to the very end," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "I can't be more proud of the way our ladies competed over these last three matches. They never gave up and believed in each other all the way to the last point. It's a very special group, especially for the seniors who played their last matches today. I'm thankful for this team and everyone who has supported us all season."
The Eagles found themselves trailing after doubles as UNF picked up courts Nos. 1 & 2 with 6-3 and 6-2 scores, respectively.
In singles play, the Ospreys built a 2-0 lead taking court No. 2 in straight sets. But FGCU's first point of the day would come from senior Julia Ascúa as she defeated her opponent on court No. 3, 6-3, 6-0. Shortly after though, UNF regained its lead with a victory on Court No. 4.
Junior Bridget Forster cut the Eagles deficit down to one, cruising away with a pair of 6-2 decisions on court No. 6. The drama soon began on court No. 5 where senior Patricia Villar battled back from a loss in the first set (4-6), winning her second set 7-6 (7-5 tiebreaker). During the second set, Villar was down 1-5 before mounting a tremendous comeback that forced a third set in which she won, 6-2.
With the match now tied 3-3, the championship point would come on the top court where junior Maja Ornberg fought back after being downed 7-5 in set one. She kept FGCU's chances alive claiming a thrilling 7-6 second set win (8-6 tiebreaker) but eventually was edged in the third set, 6-3.
The championship finals appearances was FGCU's fourth in the last five years.
Ornberg was the lone Eagle represented on the ASUN All-Tournament Team.
Singles competition
1. Rafaela Gomez (UNF) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 7-5, 6-7, 6-3
2. Lucia Montano (UNF) def. Sara Kelly (FGCU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Julia Ascúa (FGCU) def. Ana Paula Melilo (UNF) 6-3, 6-0
4. Valentina Mariotto (UNF) def. Sofia Perez (FGCU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Patricia Villar (FGCU) def. Constanza Gorches (UNF) 4-6, 7-6, 6-2
6. Bridget Forster (FGCU) def. Florencia Rossi (UNF) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Constanza Gorches/Rafaela Gomez (UNF) def. Maja Ornberg/Julia Ascúa (FGCU) 6-3
2. Lucia Montano/Florencia Rossi (UNF) def. Patricia Villar/Sara Kelly (FGCU) 6-2
3. Ana Paula Melilo/Valentina Mariotto (UNF) vs. Sofia Perez/Bridget Forster (FGCU) 4-3, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,3,4,6,5,1)
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