The fourth-seeded FGCU women's tennis team (10-9) defeated host Stetson (12-9), 4-0, to advance to the A-SUN semifinals at 9 a.m. Friday morning against top-seeded Liberty.
"The ladies had a lot of fun competing today and we will take that same mentality into tomorrow's match," head coach Courtney Vernon said. "We're going to take it point-by-point as we expect a battle from Liberty so we look forward to the opportunity."
After being bounced by the Hatters in the 2018 A-SUN Tournament and in their regular season matchup this year, the Eagles avenged both losses starting with a strong doubles play. The tandem of juniors Bridget Forster and Sofia Perez (2-3) cruised to a 6-2 win on court No. 3. Soon after, A-SUN Second Teamer, sophomore Sara Kelly teamed up with Patricia Villar (11-2) to produce their 11th overall doubles win of the season with a 6-2 score to put FGCU up 1-0 going into singles.
The 2019 A-SUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year senior Julia Ascúa (10-7) claimed the Green and Blue's first victory in singles play recording a 6-3, 6-1 triumph on court No. 3. Following her was teammate and A-SUN First Teamer Maja Ornberg (10-7). The junior collected her 12th win overall on the top court over Stetson's Lucie Renault with a 6-2, 6-4 final line.
Officially clinching the match for the Eagles was Villar (6-3) on court No. 5. The Spain native came out on top in her first set in a tough 7-5 battle and saw herself in a 3-3 tie in the second, before pulling away in a 6-3 final.
Singles competition
1. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) def. Lucie Renault (STET) 6-2, 6-4
2. Sara Kelly (FGCU) vs. Danel Ashirova (STET) 7-5, 5-4, unfinished
3. Julia Ascúa (FGCU) def. Brooke Milner (STET) 6-3, 6-1
4. Sofia Perez (FGCU) vs. Vicky Geurinckx (STET) 6-1, 4-6, 4-1, unfinished
5. Patricia Villar (FGCU) def. Danielle Peele (STET) 7-5, 6-3
6. Bridget Forster (FGCU) vs. Alexe Viaud (STET) 6-4, 5-7, 2-5, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Maja Ornberg/Julia Ascúa (FGCU) vs. Danel Ashirova/Lucie Renault (STET) 5-4, unfinished
2. Patricia Villar/Sara Kelly (FGCU) def. Vicky Geurinckx/Brooke Milner (STET) 6-2
3. Bridget Forster/Sofia Perez (FGCU) def. Megan Horwitz/Alexe Viaud (STET) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,1,5)
Up Next:
FGCU takes on top-seeded Liberty at 9 a.m. Friday morning. When both teams met in Fort Myers, Fla., on Mar. 17 during the regular season, the Eagles stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Flames in a 4-3 final.
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