Bracket

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s team heads to Denton, Texas for the Sun Belt Conference Women’s Tennis Championships and will face No. 11 seed Louisiana-Lafayette Thursday at 8 a.m.

The tournament will be played at the University of North Texas and will take place Thursday through Sunday.

The Jaguars took on the Ragin’ Cajuns earlier this season, defeating them at home 4-3. USA leads the all-time series with ULL 22-5. South Alabama held a 17-match win streak from 1991 until 2010 when ULL defeated USA 5-2.

At last season’s SBC Championships the 11th-seeded Jaguars topped No. 6 Florida Atlantic in the first round before falling to the fourth seeded Ragin’ Cajuns 4-0 in the quarterfinals.

South Alabama, the No. 7 seed, enters the tournament with a 13-5 record after falling 6-1 to No. 58 Tulane last Wednesday.

“I think our match with Tulane was great preparation for the conference tournament,” said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. “We had to deal with a team putting pressure on us. With regards to it being a loss, it’s not great, but with regards to preparation for the tournament, I thought it was excellent timing.”

Sophomore Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) leads the Jaguars going 19-2 overall and 16-0 in dual matches. Newton also paces South Alabama in doubles action posting a 12-6 mark this spring.

Another player of note for USA is freshman Mary Angela Martin (Mobile, Ala.). Martin is 15-2 overall and 12-1 in her spring campaign. In doubles action, she is 15-5 overall and 12-5 in dual matches.

“It doesn’t matter  whether the girls are a senior or a freshman, we all have to play close to our ability and capability if we are going to make a run in this tournament,” said Keyser.

Louisiana-Lafayette went 4-15 this spring and holds a four-match losing streak.

Milou Israel leads the Ragin’ Cajuns with a 10-9 record in dual matches. In doubles action, Israel and Briggitt Marcovich teamed up to go 4-2 at No. 1 in their spring campaign.

The winner of the match will take on No. 3 seed Middle Tennessee Friday at 8 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).

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