FORT MYERS, Fla. (1/16/16) — The Arkansas State tennis team opened the first day of the Florida Gulf Coast University Spring Invite with a pair of victories by freshman Shelby King and sophomore Sabina Jeresic.

Jeresic dropped her first match of the day against St. John's Irina Preotescu in the top match of the 'B' singles draw. The Croatian native lost the first set 6-3, but battled and fell 7-5 in a closely contested second set. In the consolation bracket, she was paired against Northwestern State's Ilijana Ivic and captured a 6-2, 7-5 victory.

King lost her top draw match to Barry University's Zuza Maciejewska 6-2, 6-2 but advanced in the consolation bracket after St. John's Stephaine Elgegren withdrew due to an injury.

In A-State's remaining matches, Victoria Roberts dropped a pair of matches to St. John's Olaya Inclan (6-1, 6-2) and FGCU's Elizabeth Means (6-2, 6-2), while Julie Gauguery fell to Barry's Sonja Laren (6-4, 6-3) and Southern Miss' Carolin Drescher (6-2, 6-0).

In other action, Victoria Pisani lost to Barry's Kijasova Barborara (6-1, 6-1) and to Northwestern State's Alzbeta Veberkova (6-0, 6-1), while Sofia Krsmanovic fell to Southern Miss' Elena Roca (6-4, 6-4) and to St. John's Delia Arranz 6-0, 6-2 in the 'B' Draw.

Chiara Stefanov dropped each of her two matches in the 'C' Draw, losing to FGCU's Julianna Curtis 6-1, 6-2 and Southern Miss' Claudia Castella 6-2, 6-3,

In the doubles draw, the pairing of Gauguery/Roberts fell to the Eagles' pair of Curtis/Treyes 6-3, while Jeresic/Krsmanovic lost to Barry's Bohenkamp/Barboara 6-0.

The tournament continues Sunday morning, with the finals scheduled for Monday morning.