MOBILE, Ala. - The No. 73 University of South Alabama Men's Tennis team heads to the Scott Speicher Tennis Center in Tallahassee on Saturday to begin their 2016 season.

The three teams USA will play are No. 31 Florida State and Florida A&M on Saturday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively, and Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday at 9 a.m.

"This trip is important because it sets the tone for the season," USA head coach Nick Brochu said. "It will also tell us where we are at with our training."

USA senior Tim Srkala returns after not participating in the fall season, but went 15-8 last spring, including an 11-5 mark at No. 2.

"Having Tim back in the lineup will definitely make us more competitive in singles and in doubles," Brochu said.

Junior Tuki Jacobs returns after posting a 14-5 singles record in the fall. He advanced to the finals of the USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships.

Led by Jacobs and Srkala, the Jaguars will open the season against a formidable FSU team that includes No. 15 Benjamin Lock, who posted a 10-5 fall record. Last spring the Seminoles posted a record of 20-11 and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament before losing to No. 8 Georgia.

Florida State has an overall 15-6 record against South Alabama, including an eight-match win streak. FSU defeated USA 4-1 in their meeting last January.

Next, South Alabama squares off against Florida A&M. The two teams met last March, when the Jaguars blanked the Rattlers 7-0. Florida A&M posted a record of 3-11 last spring.

Finally, USA will take on Florida Gulf Coast for the first time since 2010. The two teams played twice that spring, and the Jaguars swept the Eagles 5-0 and 7-0. FGCU had a 17-6 record last spring and lost to No. 16 UCLA in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

"We had a good fall season and I know the guys can't wait to start the regular season," said Brochu.

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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