MOBILE, Ala. – Opening with a three-match homestead, the University of South Alabama women's tennis team kicks off this spring season against Jacksonville State at 1 p.m. at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.
 
Friday will mark the third meeting between the Jaguars and the Gamecocks. USA leads the all-time series 3-0. The two teams met last February when South Alabama swept doubles and took five singles matches in straight sets for a 6-1 victory.

"I am looking for us to start out good," said USA head coach Jaco Keyser. "We have had some good preparation. I think the girls want to get off to a strong start. Everyone is a returning player so there should not be any first-match jitters."
 
Sophomore Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) led USA in the fall with a 9-4 singles mark overall, with seven wins coming in straight sets. Valkova teamed up with senior Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) to post an 8-4 record in doubles.

"I thought we had a really good fall," said Keyser. "We played seven tournaments to get some match-play in and get the girls in some match situations to prepare them for the spring."
 
JSU enters the match with a 1-2 mark in their spring campaign after competing in the Southern Miss Invitation. The Gamecocks fell 4-0 to USM, won 4-2 over Florida A&M, then lost 7-0 to New Orleans.
 
Genevie Ulanday leads JSU with a 2-1 mark at Nos. 2 and 3, with both victories coming in straight sets.

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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