Men’s Tennis Snags Comeback Win at FGCU

Saturday, February 9

Fort Myers, Fla.

5:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Florida Gulf Coast

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

2/9/2019 11:03:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University men's tennis team picked up a big in-state win on Saturday evening, topping Florida Gulf Coast on the road by the slimmest of margins, 4-3. FAU (5-4) stays on the road Sunday, at Tampa against USF, but that will finally wrap a 10-match away start to the spring season.

Notables:

Though the Eagles took the doubles point, FAU's No. 3 combination, Kirac Bekisoglu and Thomas Guy, won their pairing 6-3
On the singles side, Ignacio Garcia took the first point on either side, winning the No. 5 matchup in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2
The Owls would go up 3-1 in singles with wins by Mehdi Laalej at No. 4 (6-4, 6-3) and Alvaro Fernandez-Horta at No. 6 (7-6, 6-3)
FGCU battled back to tie it, but Jason Legall got the game-winner in the No. 1 matchup, in a three-set nailbiter, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 7-5

Quotable:

Assistant Coach Matthew Lasprilla

"We knew the match with FGCU was going to be a battle. They were well-prepared and ready to take it to us. After losing a hard-fought doubles point, we were well aware that it was going to take a great effort from all of the guys in singles.

"On courts 4-6, the guys were up to the challenge, all posting solid straight-set wins. With the match all square at three, Jason Legall stepped up in a huge way. Saving a match point and closing out the match 7-5 in the third to clinch 4-3. He showed tremendous poise and grit in the big moments.

"Overall it was a fantastic team effort from top to bottom with everyone fighting and bringing great energy from the first point to the last."

Full Results:

FAU 4, FGCU 3
Doubles
1. ESCOBAR, Felipe/RUIZ, Mateo (FGCU) def. Ignacio Garcia/Jason Legall (FAU) 7-6
2. MONTES, Juan/TEBET, Marcelo (FGCU) def. Mehdi Laalej/Gabriel Sidney (FAU) 6-4
3. Kirac Bekisoglu/Thomas Guy (FAU) def. RAMIREZ, Felipe/SAKALAUSKAS,Feliksas (FGCU) 6-3

Singles
1. Jason Legall (FAU) def. RAMIREZ, Felipe (FGCU) 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 7-5
2. MONTES, Juan (FGCU) def. Gabriel Sidney (FAU) 6-1, 6-4
3. ESCOBAR, Felipe (FGCU) def. Kirac Bekisoglu (FAU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Mehdi Laalej (FAU) def. SAKALAUSKAS,Feliksas (FGCU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Ignacio Garcia (FAU) def. RUIZ, Mateo (FGCU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Alvaro Fernandez Horta (FAU) def. FERNANDEZ, Javier (FGCU) 7-6, 6-3

What's Next:
The FAU/USF matchup to wrap the weekend, Sunday in Tampa, starts at 1:30 p.m.