The FGCU women\u2019s tennis team picked up its first loss of the 2014 regular season as it fell 4-3 to UCF on Saturday afternoon at the FGCU Tennis Complex. The Eagles move to 2-1 on the season as the Knights improve to 1-0.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was a good learning opportunity for the girls,\u201d Vernon said. \u201cWe will take today\u2019s loss and learn from it as we continue the season. We were challenged in doubles and will continue to work on building energy and carrying it over into singles play.\u201d<\/p>\n
UCF jumped to an early lead winning two of the three doubles matches to begin singles play with a 1-0 advantage. The knights claimed two dominant wins as Courtney Griffith and Josephine Haraldson beat\u00a0Sarah Means (Wesley Chapel, Fla.\/Wiregrass Ranch HS)\u00a0and\u00a0Elizabeth Means (Wesley Chapel, Fla.\/Wiregrass Ranch HS)\u00a0\u00a0in the No. 1 match, 6-0, while Sofia Baptista and Courtney Cesarini claimed a 6-1 win over\u00a0Johanna Sterkel (Schwetzingen, Germany\/Carl-Theodor-Schule HS)\u00a0and\u00a0Bettina Botha (Cape Town, South Africa\/De Kuilen HS)\u00a0in the No. 2 slot.<\/p>\n
Entering singles play with things looking grim, the Eagles needed to take four of the six singles matches to win the contest. Picking up a win in the No. 1 slot was Sarah Means with a controlling 6-3, 6-0, victory over Josephine Haraldson. Joining her sister in the winner\u2019s circle was Elizabeth Means with a 6-2, 6-4, defeat of Annika Hepp. After Saturday\u2019s wins both Sarah and Elizabeth move to 7-0 in singles play this season. Bringing the Eagles their third win was Sterkel playing in the No. 3 slot. Facing UCF\u2019s Sofia Baptista, Sterkel cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 decision.<\/p>\n
With the match knotted at 3-3, it was down to the No. 2 singles contest between\u00a0Breana Stampfli (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago\/St. Joseph\u2019s Convent)\u00a0and Courtney Griffith to decide the overall winner. After taking the first set 7-6, Stampfli failed to hold her lead in the second set, falling 6-4. The two went point-for-point throughout the third set tiebreak until the 8-8 mark, where Griffith collected the necessary points for a 10-8 win.<\/p>\n
The Green and Blue will return to action as they travel to Miami to take on the Hurricanes on Jan. 30 at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n