MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's tennis team will have another tough weekend ahead when the Jaguars go on the road to take on No. 35 Wichita State and Oklahoma.

Friday's match against the Shockers will start at 5 p.m., and Saturday's tilt will commence at noon. Live stats will be available for both matches.

"I'm excited for this road trip," USA head coach Jaco Keyser said. "This is a great opportunity to play top-notch programs and get better. As a program, we want to compete against these teams, and win or lose, it should continue help us to develop into a tough match-play team by April and May."

The Jags had their eight-match win streak snapped Sunday by No. 24 Mississippi State, but not before four shutout victories and three 6-1 wins. Both of USA's losses this season have come to top-25 opponents.

Two key components in South Alabama's win streak were senior Laura Matuskova (Bratislava, Slovakia) and sophomore Alina Zolotareva (Barnaul, Russia). Both are 7-0 this spring and have eight-match win streaks dating back to the fall. Matuskova was named the Sun Belt Conference's Women's Tennis Player of the Week on Wednesday after posting a 4-1 combined week in singles and doubles.

Friday's opponent is 4-4 on the year with a three-match losing streak, but three of the Shockers' four losses have been to ranked opponents, including a 5-2 loss to No. 14 Kansas and a 4-0 defeat to No. 27 Arkansas.

The two schools have met just once, in 2008, a 4-2 Jaguar win over the No. 61 Shockers.

Oklahoma is unranked at 5-2, but its two losses are to Arkansas and No. 40 Tulsa. The Sooners' Lily Miyazaki is No. 22 in singles, and No. 53 in doubles teaming with Julie Byrne.

It has been over 22 years since the Jaguars and Sooners have faced on the courts; USA is 2-0 against OU, winning 5-4 and 6-2 in 1994 and 1995, respectively.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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