MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men’s tennis team heads to Tampa, Fla., Saturday for its first road match of 2011 to take on South Florida at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts at noon.

“USF is a strong team,” said USA head coach Nick Brochu. “We are looking forward to the challenge. We have been healing a lot of injuries this past week, and we hope to be 100 percent by the time we get to Tampa.”

The Jaguars lead the all-time series with USF 9-5. USA has not faced the Bulls since the 2005 season.

South Alabama (2-1) enters the match after a 7-0 victory over Southern Miss at home on Feb. 9. The Jags boast the No. 4 doubles tandem in the Southern region in senior Lucas Viel (Boussy-Saint-Antoine, France) and junior Romain Bocaert (Lille, France). The Frenchmen also rank regionally in singles action, with Bocaert holding the No. 7 spot and Viel at No. 20.

Viel, however, will miss the rest of the season after suffering an injury at the end of last week.

“So far this season we have been very strong in doubles,” said Brochu. “We need to set the tone of the match and get that doubles point, which can be very important, especially on the road.”

The Bulls are looking to improve their 2-1 record after suffering their first loss of the spring to Florida Atlantic in a 4-3 match on Sunday. USF brings four players ranked in the Southeast region to Saturday’s bout: No. 12 Lucas Jovita, No. 17 Jamal Adderley, No. 18 Wail Kilani and No. 20 Connor Smith.

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).
 
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