MOBILE, Ala. – Coming off two road losses to ranked teams, the University of South Alabama women's tennis team will open at home with a doubleheader Friday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

USA will take on Jackson State at 10:30 a.m. and Jacksonville State at 2 p.m.

"I'm excited to play at home," USA head coach Jaco Keyser said. "We're off to a little bit of a slow start – I don't think we've played the best tennis – but the competition had something to do with it. We're not yet comfortable within matches against some of these teams, but we've got the talent level. It's just part of the process, getting used to it, getting back on the practice courts and playing match after match."

The Jaguars enter Friday with a 1-3 overall record, but have played three ranked opponents, including two in the top 30. Last weekend at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in College Station, Texas, South Alabama fell 4-0 to No. 10 Texas A&M and 4-1 to No. 61 Minnesota.

"It's been a great experience and it's going to be invaluable for the later part of the season," Keyser said of the tough early competition. "We saw it firsthand; we've got the talent level, we just have to tighten up in certain areas."

Junior Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) ran her spring record to 3-0 last weekend with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2 over Minnesota's Julia Courter. Sunday was her first straight-sets win of the spring, and all three victories have come at the No. 2 flight.

"She's been having really good practices," Keyser said. "She gives herself a chance by executing fundamentals and doesn't hurt herself, and that's the reason she's playing well."

South Alabama will face off against Jackson State for just the second time; last season's meeting was cancelled due to weather. In the previous matchup in 2014, the Jags blanked the Tigers 7-0. Last season, Jackson State posted a 6-18 record and currently has a 1-1 record, with their victory over South Alabama's other opponent, Jacksonville State.

The Jaguars will play Jacksonville State for the fifth consecutive season. USA has won all four of the previous meetings, including a 7-0 victory in 2015. The Gamecocks put up a 7-13 record last season and currently have a 1-2 mark after a 7-0 loss at Southern Miss.

"It's the same thing as always for us: we have to execute our fundamentals, and play with the right energy and focus," Keyser said. "Once we have that across the board in all seven points, good things will happen for us."

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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