Complete Results

MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama junior Manuel Belda (Posadas, Misiones, Argentina) earned two victories, including a win at No. 3 singles to secure the match in the Jaguars' 5-2 win over Illinois State on Thursday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

USA improved to 11-5 in their spring campaign, while ISU fell to 5-6 overall.

Belda teamed up with freshman Quincy Olij (Alkmaar, Netherlands) to clinch the doubles point with an 8-3 win over Jakub Eisner and Rolando Torrellas at the No. 1 spot. Belda picked up his 10th win this season when he later rallied to outlast Muddappa Appanervanda 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

"Illinois State is an indoor team so we had to make sure that we had a lot of energy in doubles," said USA head coach Nick Brochu. "I was very happy to see that our new combination at No. 1 worked really well and we got a quick win at that spot. That was impressive and gave us a good confidence boost."

The Jaguars picked up wins in the top four singles positions. Junior Daniel Leitner (Niederfischbach, Germany) gave the Jags a 2-0 lead when he downed Eisner 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot. Dylan Steffens answered with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Olij at No. 6.  Freshman Tuki Jacobs (Windhoek, Namibia) put USA up 3-1 with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Jacob Wilson in the No. 2 flight.

"I think Tuki played very well," said Brochu. "He got us on the board with a really quick win in his first set. Then he had a very bad second set, but bounced back extremely well and took the win."

Torrellas claimed the final point for the Redbirds when he edged Juan Troglia (Mendoza, Argentina) 2-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 at No. 5. Following Belda's match-winning point, sophomore Gerhard Gruindelingh (Pretoria, South Africa) closed out the day when he topped Urh Kranjnc Domiter 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 on the No. 4 court.

"It was very disappointing that we started singles so well, winning the first set on five courts, and then we just stopped moving and let them come back," said Brochu. "That's unacceptable. Luckily, we had guys that were able to dig deep and win."

In doubles action, Leitner and Troglia picked up the first win of the day with their 8-4 victory over Domiter and Steffens at No. 2 doubles. Gruindelingh and Jacobs fell 7-6 (8-6) to Appanervanda and Rodrigo Oliveira on the No. 3 court.

South Alabama returns to action on Saturday, March 15 when they take on Tulane at 1 p.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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