DePaul Results
Middle Tennessee Results

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After a 4-2 win over DePaul in the semifinals to earn a spot in the Sun Belt Shootout championship, the University of South Alabama men’s tennis team lost 4-0 to host Middle Tennessee Sunday at the Buck Boldin Tennis Center.

The Jaguars finish the weekend with a 13-5 record.

“It was a great win this morning against a good DePaul team,” said USA head coach Nick Brochu. “The final was disappointing. We didn't have as much fire as them. We didn't match their energy, and it cost us the first sets on all the matches. We tried to come back, but it was too late on some courts.”

USA began the day by defeating DePaul, earning a win over the Blue Demons for the second time this season.

“This morning was a great win,” Brochu said. “DePaul players are strong and talented. We played them last month and won. I told the guys they would come back with a vengeance and we had to be ready.”

A pair of straight-sets wins from junior Cody Hall (Albuquerque, N.M.) and freshman Daniel Leitner (Niederfischbach, Germany) gave the Jags an early 2-0 lead. Hall defeated Mathias Hambach 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 and Leitner followed with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Sven Kaspar at No. 3.

“We had an excellent start from our No. 3 and 4 today. Daniel and Cody put us on the board early to give us the lead.”

DePaul cut the margin in half when Matija Palinic rallied from a first-set loss at No. 5 to win 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, but South Alabama took the next two matches to close it out.

Junior Alex Bernard (Soisy Sur Seine, France) topped George Chanturia 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 on the No. 2 court and senior Dauw Kruger (Pretoria, South Africa) outlasted Josh Dancu at No. 6 in three sets, 6-0, 5-7, 6-1.

“Alex played a great match,” commented Brochu. “He beat the same guy who beat him in straight sets earlier this year, so it’s a great mental victory for him. Dauw, like always, closed the day with a long win at No. 6.”

The Blue Raiders won all four singles matches in straight sets in the nightcap to earn the Sun Belt Shootout title.

MTSU earned victories at Nos. 1 and 2 singles for an early lead. Christoph Lang defeated Bernard 6-3, 6-2 on the No. 2 court and Ben Davis dropped just four games in a 6-2, 6-2 win over senior Romain Bocaert (Lille, France).

Dimitri Pippos and Ettore Zito closed out the win at No. 6 and No. 4, respectively.

“We need to be hungrier on the court,” Brochu said. “We will probably see them again in three weeks at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. We need to work harder and get tougher. Some guys did not perform up to their level and they will need to step it up in the next few days and weeks.”

The Jaguars host Troy Thursday at 2 p.m. in the final home match of the season.

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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