Men’s Tennis Defeats North Florida, Wins 2023 ASUN Tournament

Redshirt+junior%2C+Juan+Lopez+during+his+singles+match+against+Stetson+during+the+ASUN+Mens+Tennis+Tournament+Quarterfinals.

Jessica Piland

Redshirt junior, Juan Lopez during his singles match against Stetson during the ASUN Men’s Tennis Tournament Quarterfinals.

James Curtis, Staff Writer

After winning the 2023 ASUN Tournament Championship against North Florida, 4-0, FGCU’s men’s tennis team is heading to the NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament where they will face sixth-seeded Georgia this Saturday for their first-round matchup.

This win is the fourth time FGCU’s men’s tennis team has won the ASUN Tournament and the first time since 2019.

Clinching the conference tournament championship was first highlighted by earning the doubles competition point, winning two of the three doubles matches. Magnus Johnson and Randy Wilson, both redshirt juniors, earned a 6-4 doubles victory to get started. Junior Eric Oncins and senior Carter Bradford were able to clinch the doubles point for FGCU by winning their doubles match 6-4 as well.

In the singles competition, Johnson got the Eagles going with a 6-4, 6-4 victories as the three-time ASUN Player of the Year earned FGCU its second point of the match and the first to start off singles. FGCU increased its match advantage to 3-0 as Oncins was able to win his match in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

To wrap the match up and earn the last point to win, redshirt junior Marcelo Sepulveda started behind, losing the first set 3-6. Sepulveda then rallied back in the final two sets, winning the match 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, clinching the fourth point, and the 2023 ASUN Tournament title for FGCU.

Through his efforts, Sepulveda earned the ASUN Tournament MVP and was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Bradford. The Eagles now head to Athens to face Georgia in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament.