MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's tennis team will compete in the USM Invitational Friday and Saturday (Sept. 29-30)  to begin the fall season after pulling out of the Thomasville Invitational earlier in the season.

"The Southern Miss Invitational is going to be an important tournament. We are going to see three teams we will see during the spring," said USA head coach Nick Brochu.

Southern Mississippi, Alabama-Birmingham, Louisiana-Lafayette and William Carey will be competing alongside USA at the two-day event.

"It is important, but at the same time it is preparation," Brochu said.

The Jaguars will be sending returning players, senior Oliver Gingras (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada) and junior Lucas Gonzalez (Chateauroux, France), along with freshmen Santiago di Loreto (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Nathan Fruh (Mobile, Ala.).

"We are excited to see our two new guys, Santiago and Nathan. You act differently in a match than you do in practice. They look good in practice, but we want to see them under pressure in match play," said Brochu.

Gonzalez finished last season with a 25-11 record in singles, while Gingras closed out the year 14-11.

Play begins Friday at 10 a.m.

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).

Join the Baseline Club, the tennis-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Baseline Club go directly to support the South Alabama men's and women's tennis programs. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/baselineclub