FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 17, 2024) – The University of North Alabama men's tennis team earned a memorable victory on Sunday in Fort Myers, Fla., winning the first Atlantic Sun Conference dual of the season with a 4-3 road win over the FGCU Eagles.

UNA picked up the win in dramatic fashion, coming down to the final match in singles play. The Lions took the early lead with two wins in doubles before FGCU opened singles play with two-straight victories. North Alabama responded with two more wins from freshmen Izan Orgiles and Birtan Duran, setting up the deciding match with sophomore Lachlan Brain.

Brain started with a dropped opening set but recovered with a strong second frame to set up the tiebreaker for the final team point. Brain went on to outlast FGCU's Hugo Magnusson, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, to storm to victory.

The win marked UNA's first-ever triumph over FGCU in program history. The Lions played the Eagles twice in 2019 and 2022, both won by FGCU.

All six Lions contributed with wins, with Duran bouncing back from his Stetson outing to lead with two wins. Junior Nazar Fedoryshyn and sophomore Federico Scotuzzi won the first doubles match, 6-4, while freshman Alberto Altur secured the second with Duran, 7-5. Orgiles fought back to beat FGCU's Philipp Bosse 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, overcoming the first-set defeat for UNA's second singles win. Orgiles and Brain's wins in singles concluded a perfect 3-0 week in singles action.

The Lions capped a three-dual week which included stops at Alabama A&M and ASUN member Stetson. UNA opened the week beating Alabama A&M before falling to Stetson in their first conference dual.

UNA's record now stands at 10-5, which ties the Division I program record for wins in a season. The Lions set the mark in 2023 — the first year under UNA Director of Tennis Olaya Garrido-Rivas and Men's Tennis Coach Aitor Reparaz.

The Lions' next dual will be against Kennesaw State on Friday, March 22. First serve from Kennesaw will be at 2 p.m. CT.


North Alabama 4, FGCU 3


Doubles
1. Birtan Duran/Alberto Altur (UNA) def. Hugo Magnusson/Eric Oncins (FGCU), 7-5
2. Nazar Fedoryshyn/Alberto Altur (UNA) def. Pablo Paternostro/Harry Michalowski (FGCU), 6-4
3. Lachlan Brain/Izan Orgiles (UNA) vs. Ninad Raut/John Zakowski (FGCU), 5-4, unfinished

Singles
1. Lachlan Brain (UNA) def. Hugo Magnusson (FGCU), 6(4)-7(7), 6-2, 6-4
2. Pablo Paternostro (FGCU) def. Alberto Altur (UNA), 6-3, 6-2
3. Izan Orgiles (UNA) def. Philipp Bosse (FGCU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
4. Birtan Duran (UNA) def. Mika Bunjes (FGCU), 6-4, 6-2
5. John Zakowski (FGCU) def. Nazar Fedoryshyn (UNA), 7(7)-6(2), 4-6, 6-3
6. Harry Michalowski (FGCU) def. Federico Scotuzzi (UNA), 6-3, 6-4


Match Notes
North Alabama 10-5
FGCU 4-7

Order of Completion: Doubles (1,2) Singles (2,6,4,3,5,1)

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