02/22/2026

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Nora Svensson clinched a 4-1 victory for the Florida Gulf Coast University women’s tennis team (8-2) on Sunday at the FGCU Tennis Complex, snapping Arkansas State’s four-match winning streak. The win served as the centerpiece of a perfect 2-0 weekend for the Eagles, who also defeated Mercer on Friday.

Svensson secured the deciding point at No. 2 singles, defeating Lilly Cvanciger 7-5, 6-1. Following the match, Head Coach Courtney Vernon spoke with The Eagle Sports Report regarding the team’s professional approach to the challenge.

“The ladies competed extremely well in singles and in doubles,” Vernon said. “That team was very comparable in regards to rankings to us and the ladies stayed focused and played extremely disciplined.”

Regarding the Red Wolves’ four-match win streak, Vernon noted the focus remained on the venue, “I think they were just thinking about coming out with a lot of energy and showing them that these are our courts and we want to keep winning on our courts.”

Svensson’s own mental toughness was on display as she battled back from a late first-set deficit. “I was up 4-1 and I think I lost some focus and lost a couple of games,” Svensson told The Eagle Sports Report. “But then I played a lot better when I was down 4-5 and got the set, and I just kept playing really good in the second set.”

When asked how she stabilized her game, she pointed to a disciplined mindset, “I’m just trying to like focus every single point, point by point.”

The Eagles opened the day by claiming the doubles point. Cecilie Maeland and Ashley Matz won 6-4, while Svensson and Anjali Kotecha earned a 6-3 victory. Svensson spoke about the bounce-back after she and Kotecha fell to Mercer on Friday.

“I think we played really good. We had a lot of energy,” Svensson said. “Me and (Anjali Kotecha) played a lot better compared to Friday.”

Singles play began with a hurdle as Maeland was forced to withdraw due to a medical issue, resulting in Arkansas State’s lone point. However, Sabrina Jaramillo (6-4, 6-2) and Ashley Matz (6-4, 6-3) remained poised to set the stage for the clincher.

Coach Vernon spoke about the team’s response to the setback, “I think (she) will be fine, but I think it’s also a testament to how focused these ladies are that it didn’t phase them. They just kept going about their business and they knew they had to step up for their team and that’s exactly what they did.”

FGCU 6, Mercer 1: The weekend momentum began Friday as No. 120 June Bjork led the Eagles over the Bears, securing the clinch with a 6-2, 6-1 win. FGCU swept the doubles point behind pairs Maeland/Matz and Bjork/Africa Burillo Berezak. In singles, Maeland (6-3, 6-0) and Kotecha (6-3, 6-1) earned dominant wins, while Jaramillo, Matz, and Svensson completed the near-sweep.

FGCU hosts Barry University at 1 p.m. on Friday at the FGCU Tennis Complex.