Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – In their first NCAA Tournament match since 2005, the University of South Alabama women's tennis team will take on No. 21 Clemson Friday afternoon at the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium.

First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. It will be followed by top-seeded and 13th-ranked Alabama vs. Samford at 4 p.m. The winners of each match will face off Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Jaguars, ranked No. 75 by the ITA, will take their 21-2 record against the Tigers (16-9), who had won six of seven before falling in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals to No. 10 Virginia.

"This weekend is a win-win situation for us," said USA head coach Jaco Keyser, who won his first Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honor after leading the Jags to the league title. "We get an extra two or three weeks of practice, and at the same time, I think we're good enough that if we go in there and play some good tennis, we can actually upset someone.

"We've had some good practices. It's been tricky with finals going on, but we're just trying to maintain our practice level, and even more so, it's getting mentally prepared for the upcoming challenge."

The Tigers are the highest-ranked team the Jags have faced since losing to No. 13 Clemson in 2007. All nine of their defeats came to a school in the top 22 in the nation, with six by a slim 4-3 margin.

"They're ranked No. 21 and they probably should be higher," Keyser said. "For us right now, we want to see where we stand on a national scale. They'll be good, but we'll get to see how much improvement we potentially have to make in the next year or two."

Clemson has three individuals ranked in the top 60, led by Joana Eidukonyte, who is 20-3 this spring, including 18-1 at Nos. 2 and 3, and is 10-6 against top-125 opponents.

Romy Koelzer, who has a 14-7 record at No. 1, is ranked No. 36 by the ITA, and Beatrice Gumulya is No. 60 after posting a 17-6 mark on courts 2 and 3.

The Tigers' triumvirate will be a huge test for the Jaguars' top three in sophomores Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) and Monica Mitta (Fairhope, Ala.), and senior Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.), which places a major emphasis on the bottom half of the lineup where USA is a combined 54-12, including 19-3 at the No. 6 spot.

"There's no doubt that they're the favorite, but I truly believe that in college, margins are very slim," Keyser said. "If we can engage in those matches, we should be able to compete in all six spots."

The Tigers also boast the No. 4 doubles team in the country in Gumulya and Jessy Rompies. The pair have a 14-3 spring record at No. 1 and are 7-3 against ranked opponents.

Doubles has been a strength for South Alabama all season, posting a 47-5 dual match record and winning the doubles point in every match. Newton and Valkova were tabbed First Team All-Sun Belt after going 12-0 on the No. 1 court.

"(Clemson's doubles) will be a great test," Keyser said. "At No. 1 they're obviously very good and they'll be a great test for our No. 1 team who is undefeated. Once again, I want to see how we match up against one of the top doubles teams in the nation."

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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