MOBILE, Ala. – After splitting two matches in Tennessee last week, the University of South Alabama women’s tennis team looks to gain momentum towards the end of the season against a pair of Sun Belt Conference foes this weekend in Lafayette, La.

The Jaguars will play Troy on Friday at 10 a.m. and Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Cajun Courts.

“We have another opportunity with these matches to prepare ourselves for the final stretch of the season,” said USA head coach Jaco Keyser.

South Alabama enters the weekend with a 12-6 record overall after they fell 5-0 to No. 31 Memphis, but rebounded with a 4-2 win over Middle Tennessee last weekend.

Anchoring the bottom of the Jaguars’ lineup are freshmen Paula Sanchez (Bogota, Columbia) and Cinta Maria Papke (Flein, Germany). Sanchez is 9-2 overall and has won seven matches in straight sets, while Papke posts a 9-6 record in the spring.

Troy enters Friday’s clash with a 12-4 record. The Trojans currently hold an eight-match win streak and are 4-0 at neutral sites. Anja Cosovic leads Troy with a 12-4 mark at Nos. 3 and 4 and has won 10 matches in straight sets. Karoline Grymel possesses a six-match win streak at the No. 1 spot.

USA leads the all-time series with Troy 6-3. The two teams last faced off in 2011 when the Trojans blanked the Jaguars 7-0.

Louisiana-Lafayette posts an 11-8 mark in their spring season. The Ragin Cajuns’ doubles tandem of Melissa Burckhartt and Juliette Clement are ranked 79th in the nation and are undefeated with a 13-0 record at Nos. 2 and 3.

Sunday will mark the 30th meeting between USA and ULL. South Alabama leads the all-time series 24-5. The Jaguars defeated the Ragin Cajuns twice last year with a 4-3 win during the regular season and a 4-0 victory at the Sun Belt Conference Championships.

“We still have so much room to grow on the court, as well as off the court,” said Keyer. “If we can continue to step outside of our comfort zones and continue pushing forward I am confident we could make a strong run at a Sun Belt Conference Championship.”

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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