FORT MYERS, Fla. - No. 2 North Florida battled out from a 3-0 deficit to defeat top-seed FGCU, 4-3, in Sunday's ASUN Women's Tennis Championship Final. ASUN Tournament Most Valuable Player, Michelle Valdez clinched the match with a three-set victory at No. 1 singles, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The victory marks the third-straight ASUN Women's Tennis title for UNF with all three coming against FGCU. In program history, the Ospreys have now won six conference championship trophies including five in the past six seasons.

North Florida fell behind in the doubles point when FGCU won the points in the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. FGCU's Breana Stampfli and Bridget Forster at No. 2 & 6 singles propelled the Eagles into a 3-0 advantage. Forster closed out first with a 6-1, 6-1 victory vs. Kinga Gartner, while Stampfli defeated Rafaela Gomez in three-sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0.

The Ospreys began their battle back into the match with senior Quetzali Vazquez's two-set win vs. Laura Falceto, 6-1, 7-6. The win is a revenge victory as Falceto grabbed the win in the regular season match up that gave the Eagles the regular season title.

Irina Karangozishvili followed suit with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 decision against Julia Ascua to bring UNF within one point of the host Eagles.

Things were getting intense on the fifth court as Luise Intert trailed in the third set, 4-2, to Sara Kelly; however, Kelly was unable to continue the match due to injury bringing the match to an even 3-3. Despite dropping the opening set to Maja Ornberg at No. 1, Michelle Valdez claimed the second set and eventually the match and championship title for UNF with a 6-2 set three triumph.

The Ospreys receive the automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Team Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for May 2 at 5:30 p.m.

ASUN All-Tournament Team
- Michelle Valdez, North Florida - MVP
- Luise Intert, North Florida
- Quetzali Vazquez, North Florida
- Breana Stampfli, FGCU
- Nathalie Habegger, NJIT
- Sofia Ferding, Stetson

FULL RESULTS
1. Michelle Valdez (UNF) def. ORNBERG, Maja (FGCU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. STAMPFLI, Breana (FGCU) def. Rafaela Gomez (UNF) 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
3. I Karangozishvili (UNF) def. ASCUA, Julia (FGCU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
4. Quetzali Vazquez (UNF) def. FALCETO FONT, Laura (FGCU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)
5. Luise Intert (UNF) def. KELLY, Sara (FGCU) 6-2, 3-6, 2-4, retired
6. FORSTER, Bridget (FGCU) def. Kinga Gartner (UNF) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. ASCUA, Julia/CURTIS, Julianna (FGCU) def. Luise Intert/Quetzali Vazquez (UNF) 6-3
2. STAMPFLI, Breana/ORNBERG, Maja (FGCU) vs. Lucia Montano/Rafaela Gomez (UNF) 5-3, unfinished
3. KELLY, Sara/FORSTER, Bridget (FGCU) def. Michelle Valdez/Kinga Gartner (UNF) 6-1