MOBILE, Ala. ? Sweet Home Alabama should be the motto for the University of South Alabama men’s tennis team as it will play in-state rival Alabama at the 2008 NCAA Tennis Regionals, May 9-10. Played on the campus of Florida State, the host Seminoles will take on Samford in the second match of the single elimination tournament.

“We have been there before so we are familiar with the court and it is a great place for a championship,” head coach Nick Brochu said. “ Knowing the facilities at FSU we shouldn’t be distracted and look to play well.”

The 62nd ranked Jaguars (15-8), started off the season slow by losing five of their first seven matches, but rebounded to finish the year 15-8 and winning their 18th Sun Belt Conference Championship. USA finished the season extremely strong winning 13 of their final 15 matches and knocking off no. 71 Middle Tennessee and no. 45 Denver in the final two matches of the Sun Belt Championship.

Brochu’s club has been paced all season by senior co-captains Jack Baker and R.J. Nagel. Baker is currently ranked 34th in the country and has an 11-4 mark at the number one position and a perfect 4-0 record at the number two court. Nagel, a native of Pretoria, South Africa, has been almost perfect all spring with a 21-2 mark in dual matches and a season record of 32-5. Both Captains were named to the Sun Belt Conference all-conference team. Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP and junior Marek Sramek (no. 107) has been equally as strong with at 17-5 and senior Robert Hodel is 15-5.

“We have been through a lot this season, but we changed the singles and doubles in mid season and it has paid off, “ Brochu added. “Everybody is comfortable with their position and that is why we are playing well and much better.”

On the doubles side, Brochu switched up the lineups two months ago and it has paid huge dividends. Since the move, the duo of Baker and Nagel are 12-3 and the tandem of Hodel and Sramek are 10-3. Baker was also named to the doubles all conference teams with Nagel and Sramek.

“We know Alabama is good at doubles so we are going to practice hard in our doubles play this week,” Brochu said. “If we can get ahead in doubles it would be huge for our whole team, confidence wise.”

Alabama is 19-9 on the season and are currently ranked 21st in the country by ITAtennis.com. The Crimson Tide are coming off an upset in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Championships by the hands of South Carolina in Fayetteville, Arkansas, 4-3. Before the loss to USC, UA had won five matches in a row against top-ranked teams such as Florida and Auburn.

“Alabama is a good team, ranked in the top-25, but I think it is a great matchup for us,” Brochu noted. “They are an in-state rival and playing in Tallahassee in front of our fans will hopefully help.”

The winner of each site advances to the NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championships at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, hosted by the University of Tulsa. The team championship will be held May 16-20.

Times for the first round match against South Alabama and Alabama will be announced shortly so stay tuned to usajaguars.com for all tournament information