FORT MYERS, Fla. – The University of Central Arkansas tennis team fell to Florida Gulf Coast on the road Sunday evening in the final match of the regular season. The Bears will finish 2024 with an 11-13 record and a 3-7 ASUN mark.

The Bears' doubles play was something they could hang their hats on down the stretch, but they were stifled in back-to-back matches. Nanoka Kazama and Harune Shigemasu had the opportunity to extend doubles play, but the No. 1 pair for the Bears were upended before they were able to.

With a 1-0 lead, the Eagles were able to soar past the Bears in singles play. Kazama had a chance to get UCA on the board, winning the first set, 6-3. However, the sophomore could not take command in the tiebreak set, falling 7-6 in a hard fought battle in the No. 2 spot. Sumomo Hamanaga was another Bear that got edged out in a tiebreak, losing 7-6 in the first set, and then Goldsmith for FGCU was able to finish out the match from there. FGCU nabs a 3-0 lead in the all-time series against the Bears, including a second straight shutout.

UCA 0 – FGCU 7

Doubles:

Vichitraporn Vimuktananda / Hamanaga vs. Norin/Ferding 6-3

Kazama / Shigemasu vs. Colmenares/Goldsmith 5-4 UF

Konomi Miyakawa / Seohyun Park vs. Glantz/Ossa 6-2

Singles:

Vimuktananda vs. Norin 6-0, 6-3

Kazama vs. Colmenares 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)

Hamanaga vs. Goldsmith 7-6 (7-2), 6-3

Miyakawa vs. Ossa 6-2, 6-3

Shigemasu vs. Ferding 6-1, 6-3

Ting-An Chen vs. Kopel 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)