TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of South Alabama men’s tennis team fell to the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats Sunday 4-2 at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.

Because of rain play was delayed until noon CST and no doubles matches were played.

“After a rain delay in the morning, our objective was to have a strong start,” USA head coach Nick Brochu said. “It was a great battle from the beginning to the end.”

The Jaguars dropped two quick matches at No. 2 and No. 3 singles in straight sets to start the day, followed by a loss at the No. 1 spot from No. 99 Lucas Viel to the Wildcats’ Jay Goldman 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

USA battled back, picking up wins in the No. 5 and No. 6 flights. Sophomore Dauw Kruger defeated Ravid Hazi in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 at No. 6, giving the Jags their first point of the match. Sophomore Christian Kuehne followed with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 victory at No. 5 over Borja Malo.

Freshman Alexandre Bernard fell to Arizona’s Geoff Embry 6-4 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 in the No. 4 flight giving the Wildcats the win.

“Losing after being so close is hard to swallow,” said Brochu. “Lucas was up 4-1 in the third and Alex lost in a third-set tiebreaker.

“It was a great weekend. The guys are realizing they can beat some of the best teams in the country. We need to make sure we carry this high-quality tennis over to our next matches.”

The Jags will be back in action Feb. 24 when they take on New Orleans at 1 p.m. on the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

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

—USA—